Adjustable height cyclic control assembly and method

• US 9,969,484 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grant Norwitz, James Fletcher
• Original Assignee: Grant Norwitz, James Fletcher
• Inventors: Norwitz, Grant, Fletcher, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/056,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0421 control sticks for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/06 adjustable to suit individual persons

Abstract

Adjustable height control stick assembly for dual control of aircraft includes a single control stick for longitudinal and lateral orientation of the aircraft with the height adjustment allowing for correction of position prior to flight. The stick is connected to appropriate linkages to move the ailerons and elevator of an airplane or the rotor blades of a helicopter. When either the pilot or the copilot is flying the grip for the other is at a different height to that for normal operation. The invention replaces and makes adjustable the grip so that height of the grip of both pilot and copilot are the same as if they were flying and in control of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A height adjustable grip for a cyclic in a dual control aircraft movable in a lateral and longitudinal direction and having airfoil surfaces to effect lateral and longitudinal orientation of the aircraft, wherein the aircraft is provided with side-by-side pilot and copilot seats arranged on each side of the center axis of the aircraft, the improvement comprising a single non-rotatable control stick with a height adjustable mechanism for lateral and longitudinal orientation of the aircraft, said control stick being located generally on the center axis of the aircraft, wherein said control stick comprises a joint for mounting said stick for pivotal movement in a lateral and longitudinal direction, a first crossbar hingedly mounted on a first side of said control stick vertically above said joint, a second crossbar hingedly mounted on a second side of said control stick vertically above said joint wherein said first and second crossbars are tiltable freely in a vertical plane without effecting aircraft orientation, a means connected to said control stick for effecting movement of said airfoil surfaces for lateral and longitudinal orientation of the aircraft in response to lateral and longitudinal movement of said control stick, and a grip mounted on said first and second crossbars spaced from a centered position of said control stick at an end of the first and second crossbars, wherein said control stick is located forward of and generally centered in front of each of said seats, wherein either the pilot or copilot may control lateral and longitudinal orientation of the aircraft through movement of said single control stick, wherein movement of said control stick by the pilot or copilot is effected by rotating one of said first or second crossbar hingedly mounted to said control stick in a downward direction so that the grip at the end of the first or second crossbar is adjacent to the pilot or the copilot, wherein at least one grip mounted on said first and second crossbars is removable and replaced with the adjustable grip at a connection point, wherein the adjustable grip comprises the height adjustable mechanism, wherein the height adjustable mechanism comprises a first extension having a first end and a second end that extends along a first axis and a second extension having a first end and a second end that extends along a second axis at an angle with respect to the first axis of the first extension, wherein the first end of the first extension plugs directly into the first or second crossbar at the connection point and the second end of the first extension comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the second extension with respect to the first extension, wherein the adjustable grip does not change how the control stick operates in any way.

2. The height adjustable grip of claim 1, wherein the second end of the second extension comprises a grip.

3. The height adjustable grip of claim 2, wherein the second end of the second extension comprises a push to talk trigger.

4. The height adjustable grip of claim 3, wherein the second end of the first extension comprises a sleeve that receives the second extension.

5. The height adjustable grip of claim 4, wherein the sleeve comprises a locking mechanism to fix the position of the second extension with respect to the first extension.

6. The height adjustable grip of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a removable pin that fits within an aperture within the sleeve.

7. The height adjustable grip of claim 6, wherein the first end of the first extension which plugs directly into the first or second crossbar at the connection point includes a male/female electrical plug which electrically connects the height adjustable grip to existing wiring within the control stick.

8. The height adjustable grip of claim 7, wherein a flexible cord extends from the first end of the second extension to the removable pin and wherein an electrical signal is sent through the flexible cord.