Line replaceable, fly-by-wire control columns with push-pull interconnect rods

• US 8,469,317 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodward MPC, Inc. (Woodward Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Woodward MPC, Inc. (Woodward Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burroughs, Michael A., Hutchison, Joel M., Stachniak, Darryl S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US12/910,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20120097800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 244/224, 244/225, 244/229
• US Class Current: 244/229
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/345 with artificial feel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A control input system is provided. The system includes a pair of control columns that are selectively interconnected such that manipulation of one of the control columns is translated to the other one of the control columns. The system includes a disconnect arrangement for each of the degrees of freedom (pitch and roll) of the system that operably disconnects the two control columns such that the two control columns can operate independently such as in the event of failure of one of the control columns. The system may also include a discontinuous force profile for a restoring force mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the pilots simulating resistance provided by control surfaces of the aircraft. The system may also include an autopilot lockout mechanism that increases the force profile experienced by the pilots when autopilot mode is entered.

Claims

1. A control system including:

first and second control columns for receiving pitch and roll control inputs from a pilot for an aircraft, each control column having a control grip moveable along a pitch axis to adjust the pitch control input to the aircraft and moveable along a roll axes to adjust the roll control input to the aircraft;

a roll interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips roll axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips; and

a pitch interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips pitch axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips;

further including a disconnect device interposed between the grip of the first control column and the grip of the second column for a selected one of pitch or roll, the disconnect device having a coupled state fixedly coupling the grips for coordinated movement along a selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis and a decoupled state in which the disconnect device does not fixedly couple the grips such that movement of one grip along the selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis is not translated to the other grip, the disconnect device including a solenoid actuated latch for transitioning the disconnect device from the coupled state to the decoupled state.

15. The control system of claim 1, further including an autopilot lockout mechanism associated with a selected one of pitch or roll, the autopilot lockout mechanism providing increased resistance that must be overcome to manipulate the first and second control columns along the selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis when autopilot is activated.

2. A control system including:

first and second control columns for receiving pitch and roll control inputs from a pilot for an aircraft, each control column having a control grip moveable along a pitch axis to adjust the pitch control input to the aircraft and moveable along a roll axes to adjust the roll control input to the aircraft;

a roll interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips roll axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips;

a pitch interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips pitch axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips; and

further including a disconnect device interposed between the grip of the first control column and the grip of the second column for a selected one of pitch or roll, the disconnect device having a coupled state fixedly coupling the grips for coordinated movement along a selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis and a decoupled state in which the disconnect device does not fixedly couple the grips such that movement of one grip along the selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis is not translated to the other grip;

wherein the disconnect device includes;

a pivot link that is operably coupled to the grip of one of the control columns for movement about a pivot axis;

a connection link pivotably coupled to the pivot link about a release axis that is offset from the pivot axis;

a clevis link pivotable relative to the pivot link about the pivot axis, the clevis link selectively engageable with the connection link to fix the clevis link relative to the pivot link, the clevis link being operably coupled to the pitch interconnect rod.

3. The control system of claim 2, including a pair of disconnect devices including a pitch disconnect device and a roll disconnect device, the pitch disconnect device interposed between the grip of the first control column and the grip of the second column, the pitch disconnect device having a coupled state fixedly coupling the grips for coordinated movement along each control grips pitch axis and a decoupled state in which the pitch disconnect device decouples the grips such that movement of one grip along the grip'"'"'s pitch axis is not translated to the other grip;

the roll disconnect device interposed between the grip of the first control column and the grip of the second column, the roll disconnect device having a coupled state fixedly coupling the grips for coordinated movement along each control grips roll axis and a decoupled state in which the roll disconnect device decouples the grips such that movement of one grip along the grip'"'"'s roll axis is not translated to the other grip; and

wherein each disconnect device includes;

a pivot link that is operably coupled to the grip of one of the control columns for movement about a pivot axis;

a connection link pivotably coupled to the pivot link about a release axis that is offset from the pivot axis;

a clevis link pivotable relative to the pivot link about the pivot axis, the clevis link selectively engageable with the connection link to fix the clevis link relative to the pivot link, the clevis link being operably coupled to the pitch interconnect rod.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the first control column includes the pitch disconnect device and the second control column includes the roll disconnect device.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the first and second control columns are line-replaceable-units.

6. The control system of claim 2, further including a latch arrangement between the pivot link and the connection link, the latch arrangement biasing the connection link into engagement with the clevis link in the coupled state.

7. The control system of claim 6, further including a disconnect biasing member biasing the connection link away from the clevis link to disconnect the connection link from the clevis link in the decoupled state.

8. The control system of claim 6, wherein the latch arrangement includes a pivoting catch and a preload spring, the preload spring extending between the pivoting catch and the connection link;

in the coupled state, the pivoting catch is in a first position and tensions the preload spring to bias the connection link into engagement with the clevis link;

in the decoupled state, the pivoting catch is in a second position and reduces the tension of the preload spring to allow the connection link to be decoupled from the clevis link.

9. The control system of claim 8, further including a disconnect biasing member biasing the connection link away from the clevis link to disconnect the connection link from the clevis link in the decoupled state when the pivoting catch is in the second position.

10. The control system of claim 2, wherein the connection link includes a pair of spaced apart rollers, a distal end of the clevis link is received between the pair of rollers in the coupled state.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the clevis link includes a tapered tongue, the connection link being resiliently biased toward the clevis link.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the interconnect rod relating to the selected one of the pitch or roll is pivotally coupled to the clevis link at a position between the tapered tongue and the pivotal connection between the clevis link and the pivot link.

13. The control system of claim 8, further including a solenoid, the solenoid selectively engaging the pivoting catch in the coupled state and preventing the pivoting catch from transitioning from the first position to the second position, the solenoid being energized such that the solenoid disengages the pivoting catch allowing the pivoting catch to transition from the first position to the second position allowing the disconnect device to transition to the decoupled state.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the disconnect device must be manually reset.

16. A control system including:

first and second control columns for receiving pitch and roll control inputs from a pilot for an aircraft, each control column having a control grip moveable along a pitch axis to adjust the pitch control input to the aircraft and moveable along a roll axes to adjust the roll control input to the aircraft;

a roll interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips roll axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips; and

a pitch interconnect rod operably coupling the first and second control columns for coordinated movement of the control grips along each control grips pitch axis when an input is provided to either of the control grips;

further including an autopilot lockout mechanism associated with a selected one of pitch or roll, the autopilot lockout mechanism providing increased resistance that must be overcome to manipulate the first and second control columns along the selected one of the pitch axis or roll axis when autopilot is activated; and

wherein the autopilot lockout includes;

first and second autopilot plates being pivotable about an autopilot axis;

an autopilot resistance spring biasing ends of the first and second autopilot plates angularly toward one another about the autopilot axis;

a main link pivotable about the autopilot axis, the interconnect rod coupled to the control stick through the main link, the main link operably engaging the first autopilot plate when rotated angularly in a first direction and operably engaging the second autopilot plate when rotated angularly in a second direction, opposite the first direction;

a grounding arrangement, when autopilot is activated, selectively grounding the second autopilot plate when the main link is rotated in the first direction and selectively grounding the first autopilot plate when the main link is rotated in the second direction.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the main link includes an engagement tab angularly interposed between the first and second autopilot plates the engagement tab angularly engaging the first and second autopilot plates when the main link is rotated in the first and second directions, respectively.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein grounding arrangement includes a lockout arm that includes an abutment angularly interposed between the first and second autopilot plates, at least when autopilot is activated, the abutment engaging the first and second autopilot plates when the first and second autopilot plates are grounded.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein the lockout arm is transitional between a lockout position when autopilot is activated and a relief position when autopilot is not activated;

in the lockout position, the abutment engages with the first autopilot plate when the main link rotates in the second direction and engages with the second autopilot plate when the main link rotates in the second direction;

in the relief position, the abutment does not engage either the first or second autopilot plates when the main link is rotated about the autopilot axis.