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Aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system

  • US 7,840,315 B2
  • Filed: 11/27/2006
  • Issued: 11/23/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) for allowing a pilot to sit in a captain'"'"'s seat (12) on a flight deck (10) of an aircraft, to grip a captain yoke (14), to observe an instrument panel (20), and to conveniently and safely modify a desired heading and select one of a plurality of VOR radial signals emitted by a VOR station while gripping the captain yoke (14) with both hands, comprising:

  • (A) a multi-controlled HSI (200), having;

    (i) a compass (210) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, wherein the compass (210) has a compass perimeter (212) and a plurality of radial measurement indicia (214) that are located along the compass perimeter (212), whereby the compass (210) rotates in response to a change in an actual heading of the aircraft;

    (ii) a heading indicator (220) that visually indicates a fixed reference on the multi-controlled HSI (200), wherein the heading indicator (220) is located in readable relationship with the radial measurement indicia (214), whereby the actual heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the radial measurement indicia (214) with the heading indicator (220);

    (iii) an adjustable heading bug (230) that visually indicates the desired heading of the aircraft, wherein the adjustable heading bug (230) is selectively positioned along the compass perimeter (212) such that the adjustable heading bug (230) rotates with the compass (210), whereby the desired heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the adjustable heading bug (230) with the radial measurement indicia (214);

    (iv) a heading adjustment control (240) that controls the position of the adjustable heading bug (230), wherein the heading adjustment control (240) is on the multi-controlled HSI (200), whereby operation of the heading adjustment control (240) moves the adjustable heading bug (230) around the compass perimeter (212);

    (v) a VOR radial indicator (250) that visually indicates a representation of the VOR radial signal, wherein the VOR radial indicator (250) is positioned within the compass perimeter (212), whereby the VOR radial indicator (250) rotates with the compass (210) in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft, and the VOR radial indictor (250) translates within the compass perimeter (212) as the aircraft flies along the actual heading; and

    (vi) a VOR radial selector (260) that allows selection of the VOR radial signal, wherein the VOR radial selector (260) is on the multi-controlled HSI (200), whereby operation of the VOR radial selector (260) selects the VOR radial signal displayed by the VOR radial indicator (250);

    (B) a yoke heading adjustment control (300) that controls the position of the adjustable heading bug (230), wherein the yoke heading adjustment control (300) is on the captain yoke (14);

    (C) a yoke VOR radial selector (310) that controls selection of the VOR radial signal indicated by the VOR radial indicator (250), wherein the yoke VOR radial selector (310) is on the captain yoke (14); and

    (D) a mode selector (600) having a heading bug mode (610) and a VOR radial mode (620), wherein the heading bug mode (610) facilitates operation between the yoke heading adjustment control (300) and the adjustable heading bug (230), and the VOR radial mode (620) facilitates operation between the yoke VOR radial selector (310) and the VOR radial indicator (250), whereby operation of the heading bug mode (610) allows operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) and operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) moves the adjustable heading bug (230) around the compass perimeter (212), and operation of the VOR radial mode (620) allows operation of the yoke VOR radial selector (310) and operation of the yoke VOR radial selector (310) selects the VOR radial signal displayed by the VOR radial indicator (250).

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