Modular construction of an aircraft control system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for disabling operation of an aircraft by an on-board pilot, said aircraft having an aircraft control system for controlling at least one controlled component including at least one of (i) an aircraft engine throttle and (ii) an aircraft attitude control surface, said aircraft control system actuating said at least one controlled component in response to one of (i) first control signals received from a control device manually actuated by the onboard pilot and (ii) second control signals received from at least one alternate source of control, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) a first control module having an interruptible link which passes said first control signals from said control device to said aircraft control system, said first control module including first connecting means for (i) interrupting said link and (ii) directing said first control signals to a second control module; and
(b) a second control module adapted to be connected to said first control module and including second connecting means, responsive to third control signals, for connecting one of (i) said first control signals received from said first control module and (ii) said second control signals received from said at least one alternate source of control to said aircraft control system for control of said controlled component;
wherein, said first connecting means is responsive to the act of connection of said second control module to said first control module to (a) interrupt said link, (b) direct said first control signals to said second connecting means and (c) connect said aircraft control system to said second connecting means; and
wherein said third control signals cause said second connecting means to select said second control signals to pass to said aircraft control system for controlling the controlled component.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for disabling on-board pilot operation of an aircraft and transferring aircraft operation to an alternate source of control. The aircraft has an aircraft control system for controlling at least one controlled component, such as an aircraft attitude control surface or an aircraft engine throttle. The apparatus is of modular construction, and includes two control modules. A first control module has an interruptible link that passes the first control signals from the control device to the aircraft control system. This first control module has a first connecting device for (i) interrupting the link and (ii) directing said first control signals to a second control module. The second control module is adapted to be connected to (e.g. plugged into) the first control module, and has a second connecting device. This connecting device is responsive to third control signals, for connecting one of (i) the first control signals received from the first control module and (ii) second control signals received from an alternate source of control, to the aircraft control system for control of the aforementioned controlled component.
19 Citations
56 Claims
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1. Apparatus for disabling operation of an aircraft by an on-board pilot, said aircraft having an aircraft control system for controlling at least one controlled component including at least one of (i) an aircraft engine throttle and (ii) an aircraft attitude control surface, said aircraft control system actuating said at least one controlled component in response to one of (i) first control signals received from a control device manually actuated by the onboard pilot and (ii) second control signals received from at least one alternate source of control, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first control module having an interruptible link which passes said first control signals from said control device to said aircraft control system, said first control module including first connecting means for (i) interrupting said link and (ii) directing said first control signals to a second control module; and (b) a second control module adapted to be connected to said first control module and including second connecting means, responsive to third control signals, for connecting one of (i) said first control signals received from said first control module and (ii) said second control signals received from said at least one alternate source of control to said aircraft control system for control of said controlled component; wherein, said first connecting means is responsive to the act of connection of said second control module to said first control module to (a) interrupt said link, (b) direct said first control signals to said second connecting means and (c) connect said aircraft control system to said second connecting means; and wherein said third control signals cause said second connecting means to select said second control signals to pass to said aircraft control system for controlling the controlled component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification