NAVIGATION DATA COMPUTATION APPARATUS

• US 3,836,690 A
• Filed: 12/06/1972
• Issued: 09/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Homer Purtle Jr
• Original Assignee: Homer Purtle Jr
• Inventors: Purtle, Homer Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US05/312,612
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 235/150.2-150.27,92CA,92CC,92FL,92T,150.3,151.11,151.34 73/178 35/10.2,11 340/27,336,324R
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

An improved navigation data computation apparatus having manually settable data entry devices receiving pilot entered data, a data computation assembly receiving the pilot entered data and providing output signals indicative of predetermined navigation data, and decimal display devices receiving the output signals and providing pilot perceivable output indications indicative of the predetermined navigation data.

Claims

1. Navigation data computation apparatus for receiving pilot entered data and providing pilot perceivable output indications simulating predetermined navigation data for aiding a pilot in the navigation of an aircraft, comprising:

gallons per hour data entry means manually settable at the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s fuel consumption and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

means receiving the gallons per hour data entry means output signal and providing an output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s fuel consumption expressed in terms of gallons per predetermined interval of time;

clock means connected to the starter of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine providing an output clock signal having a predetermined frequency responsive to the predetermined interval of time in response to the starting of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine;

up counter means receiving the clock signal and providing an output signal indicative of the total operational time of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine;

multiply counter means receiving the up counter means output signal and the output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s fuel consumption expressed in terms of galLons per predetermined interval of time and providing an output signal indicative of the product of the received signals; and

fuel consumed decimal display means receiving the multiply counter means output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative thereof, thereby indicating the fuel consumed by the aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

total fuel data entry means manually settable at the fuel contained in the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s fuel tanks and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

subtract counter means receiving the total fuel data entry means output signal and the multiply counter output signal and providing an output signal indicative of the total fuel data entry means output signal less the multiply counter output signal; and

available fuel decimal display means receiving the subtract counter means output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative thereof, thereby indicating the available fuel remaining in the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s fuel tanks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

miles per hour data entry means manually settable at the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s speed and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

means receiving the miles per hour data entry means output signal and providing an output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s speed expressed in terms of miles per predetermined interval of time;

up counter means receiving the clock signal and providing an output signal indicative of the total operational time of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine;

means interposed between the up counter means and the clock means connecting the clock signal to the up counter in response to the aircraft lifting off the ground;

multiply counter means receiving the last-mentioned up counter means output signal and the output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s speed expressed in terms of miles per predetermined interval of time and providing an output signal indicative of the product of the received signals; and

distance consumed decimal display means receiving the last-mentioned multiply counter output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative thereof, thereby indicating the distance traveled by the aircraft.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

total time data entry means manually settable at a predetermined time required for a particular flight and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

down counter means receiving the clock signal in one position and the total time data entry means output signal and providing an output signal responsive to the total time data entry means output signal counted down via the received clock signal;

means interposed between the down counter means and the clock means connecting the clock signal to the down counter means in response to the aircraft lifting off the ground; and

time remaining decimal display means receiving the down counter means output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output signal indicative thereof, thereby indicating the time remaining during a particular flight.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

pressure altitude data entry means manually settable at the pressure altitude of the aircraft and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

outside air temperature data entry means manually settable at the outside air temperature of the aircraft and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

means receiving the pressure altitude data entry means output signal and the outside air temperature data entry means output signal and providing an output signal indicative of the density altitude of the aircraft; and

density altitude decimal display means receiving the output signal indicative of the density altitude of the aircraft and providing a Pilot perceivable output indication indicative thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

short distance data entry means manually settable at a predetermined short distance and providing an output signal responsive to and indicative thereof;

slave clock means providing a slave clock signal indicative of a predetermined interval of time;

divide counter means receiving the short distance data entry means output signal and the slave clock signal and providing an output signal indicative of the short distance data entry means output signal divided by the slave clock signal;

means manually operable interposed between the slave clock means and the divide counter means connecting the slave clock signal to the divide counter means, in one position thereof; and

ground speed decimal display means receiving the divide counter means output signal and providing an output signal indicative thereof, thereby indicating the ground speed of the aircraft during the interval of time the slave clock signal was connected to the divide counter means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

frequency data entry means manually settable at a predetermined frequency and providing an output signal responsive thereto and indicative thereof;

means receiving and storing the frequency indicated via the frequency data entry means output signal, and providing an output signal indicative thereof in one position; and

indicator decimal display means receiving the output signal from the means storing the frequency data entry means output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

wind direction data entry means manually settable at a predetermined wind direction and providing an output signal responsive thereto and indicative thereof;

wind speed data entry means manually settable at a predetermined wind speed and providing an output signal responsive thereto and indicative thereof;

computer means receiving the wind direction data entry means output signal and the wind speed data entry output signal and providing an output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s ground speed and an output signal indicative of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s true heading; and

means receiving the computer means output signals and providing pilot perceivable output indications indicative of each of the received signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include:

approach heading data entry means manually settable at a predetermined approach heading and providing an output signal responsive thereto and indicative thereof;

comparator means receiving the approach heading data entry means output signal and comparing the received signal with a predetermined number 180, the comparator means providing one output signal in response to a received signal less than the predetermined number and providing one other output signal in response to a received signal greater than the predetermined number;

subtract counter means receiving the comparator means output signal indicative of a received signal greater than the predetermined number and providing an output signal indicative of the received signal less 180;

add counter means receiving the comparator means output signal indicative of a received signal less than the predetermined number and providing an output signal indicative of the received signal plus 180; and

course reciprocal decimal display means receiving the output signals from the subtract counter means and from the add counter means and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative of the received signals, thereby indicating the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s course reciprocal.

10. Navigation data computation apparatus for receiving pilot entered data and providing pilot perceivable output indications simulating predetermined navigation data for aiding a pilot in the navigatiOn of an aircraft, comprising:

short distance data entry means manually settable at a predetermined short distance and providing an output signal responsive to and indicative thereof;

slave clock means providing a slave clock signal indicative of a predetermined interval of time;

divide counter means receiving the short distance data entry means output signal and the slave clock signal and providing an output signal indicative of the short distance data entry means output signal divided by the slave clock signal;

means manually operable interposed between the slave clock means and the divide counter means connecting the slave clock signal to the divide counter means, in one position thereof; and

ground speed decimal display means receiving the divide counter means output signal and providing an output signal indicative thereof, thereby indicating the ground speed of the aircraft during the interval of time the slave clock signal was connected to the divide counter means.

11. Navigation data computation apparatus for receiving pilot entered data and providing pilot perceivable output indications simulating predetermined navigation data for aiding a pilot in the navigation of an aircraft, comprising:

total time data entry means manually settable at a predetermined time required for a particular flight and providing an output signal in response thereto and indicative thereof;

clock means connected to the starter of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine providing an output clock signal having a predetermined frequency responsive to the predetermined interval of time in response to the starting of the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s engine;

down counter means receiving the clock signal in one position and the total time data entry means output signal and providing an output signal responsive to the total time data entry means output signal counted down via the received clock signal;

means interposed between the down counter means and the clock means connecting the clock signal to the down counter means in response to the aircraft lifting off the ground; and

time remaining digital decimal means receiving the down counter means output signal and providing a pilot perceivable output signal indicative thereof, thereby indicating the time remaining during a particular flight.

12. Navigation data computation apparatus for receiving pilot entered data and providing pilot perceivable output indications simulating predetermined navigation data for aiding a pilot in the navigation of an aircraft, comprising:

approach heading data entry means manually settable at a predetermined approach heading and providing an output signal responsive thereto and indicative thereof;

comparator means receiving the approach heading data entry means output signal and comparing the received signal with a predetermined number 180, the comparator means providing one output signal in response to a received signal less than the predetermined number and providing one other output signal in response to a received signal greater than the predetermined number;

subtract counter means receiving the comparator means output signal indicative of a received signal greater than the predetermined number and providing an output signal indicative of the received signal less 180;

add counter means receiving the comparator means output signal indicative of a received signal less than the predetermined number and providing an output signal indicative of the received signal plus 180; and

course reciprocal decimal display means receiving the output signals from the subtract counter means and from the add counter means and providing a pilot perceivable output indication indicative of the received signals, thereby indicating the aircraft'"'"''"'"'s course reciprocal.