Traffic pattern approach computer

• US 6,950,731 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cody Mac English
• Original Assignee: Cody Mac English
• Inventors: English, Cody Mac
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US10/906,038
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: G01/C02.1/20, 701 14- 15, 701/120, 701224-225, 33/1.SD, 334/31, 333/55.R, 33356-359, 235/78.N, 235/78.R, 235/61.B, 235/61.NV, 342/450, 342/456, 340/954, 340/973, 340/979
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A mechanical computer used in tandem with a GPS to approach, enter and fly the traffic pattern of any uncontrolled airport. Pilots must navigate to a relatively small area or approach point before entering the traffic pattern of an uncontrolled airport. While airports are programmed into GPS units, the approach points are not. The computer works in tandem with an onboard GPS unit programmed for navigation direct to the airport of intended landing and employs triangulation to navigate to an approach point from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made.

Claims

1. A handheld mechanical computer which works in tandem with an onboard GPS unit programmed for navigation direct to the airport of intended landing that employs triangulation so that an alternate point can be navigated to from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made comprising:

(1) means for calculating standard navigation data utilizing the concept of relative bearings and relative courses as described in the preferred embodiment comprising;

(a) creating a model approach scenario by;

(1) designating the distance and relative bearing from the airport of at least one point from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made called pattern approach point,

(2) designating the distance and relative bearing from the airport of a multitude of points around the airport with an equal distance from the airport called initial approach points,

(3) designating which said pattern approach points may be flown to from which said initial approach points thereby defining relative approach courses for said model,

(b) calculating said navigation data utilizing triangulation for each of the said relative approach courses, said navigation calculations include at least a course adjustment which is the difference between the relative course from the initial approach point to the airport and the relative course from the initial approach point to the pattern approach point,

(2) a disc with a compass rose with a plurality of equally spaced compass headings,

(3) a second disc with a circle of said navigation data placed on said disc so that said navigation data are systematically linked to the corresponding said relative initial approach points and said relative approach courses,

(4) means for connecting said two discs that allows said discs to pivot independently of each other,

(5) means for all compass headings from said compass rose on first said disc and all said navigation data on said second disc to be simultaneously viewed,

(6) a marked location on said disc 2 used to align a single compass heading from said compass rose from said disc 1 closest to the runway heading of the airport of intended landing to linking each said compass heading from said disc 1 with a set of said navigation data from said disc 2 whereby said navigation data linked to the compass heading closest to the aircrafts actual bearing to the airport is used to navigate to said pattern approach point when the aircraft is the specified distance from the airport.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said two discs that allows said discs to rotate independently of each other is a hole punched in the center of said discs with a connecting device running thru the holes.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein said means for all compass headings from said compass rose on first said disc and all said navigation data on said second disc to be simultaneously viewed is said disc 2 is mounted in front of said disc 1, the diameter of said disc 1 is larger than the diameter of said disc 2 and the diameter of said compass rose on said disc 1 is larger than the diameter of said disc 2.

4. The computer of claim 1 further including additional navigation data included on said disc 2 designating the location of a gate for each said approach course which is calculated by said method for calculating standard navigation data, said gate indicates the position that the turn towards the traffic pattern should be started whereby the turn ends on the prescribed track to the traffic pattern at the approach point.

5. The computer of claim 4 further including additional navigational data included on said disc 2 designating a cross track value of the course direct to the airport for each said approach course which is calculated by said method for calculating standard navigation data, said cross track value is used to create a simulated course deviation indicator whereby course guidance is provided so that the gate can be precisely flown to.

6. The computer of claim 3 wherein:

(1) said compass rose on said disc 1 is comprised of 36 compass headings with ten degree increments with said headings ending in zero and is located close to the outer edge of said disc,

(2) said disc 1 has at a second compass rose with 36 compass headings in ten degree increments with said headings ending in zero and located inside said first compass rose,

(3) said disc 1 has a third compass rose with 36 compass headings in ten degree increments with said headings ending in five and located inside said first compass rose,

(4) said disc 2 has four slots that provide the magnetic courses of the four traffic pattern legs by showing one said compass heading from said second compass rose on said disc 1 in each of said slots on said disc 2,

(5) said disc 2 has a fifth slot that provides the magnetic course for the preferred traffic pattern entry by revealing one compass heading from said third compass rose on said disc 1.

7. The computer of claim 6 further including three additional compass roses with 36 compass headings in ten degree increments with said headings ending in zero whereby making each said compass heading revealed in each of the four said slots on said disc 2 that provide the magnetic courses of the four traffic pattern legs to have the same orientation.

8. The computer of claim 6 wherein said disc 2 has a scale diagram of the circular area bounded by said initial approach points which includes a scale representation of the runway, traffic pattern, and said pattern approach points whereby the pilot can easily visualize the aircrafts position relative the airport and traffic pattern when the aircraft is at the distance from the airport when direct to airport navigation is broken off for navigation to said pattern approach point.

9. The computer of claim 8 wherein said disc 2 has lines drawn from outer boundary of said circular area on disc 2 to the pattern approach points representing said relative approach courses whereby the pilot can easily visualize which said relative approach courses are available given the aircrafts relative bearing to the airport.

10. The computer of claim 8 further including a third disc mounted in front of said disc two with said connecting device wherein:

(1) said disc 3 pivots about its center independently from the other discs,

(2) said disc 3 has a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said disc 2,

(3) said disc 3 is composed of a clear material that allows said diagram on said disc 2 as well as said five slots on disc 2 to be viewed,

(4) said disc 3 is modified so that the outer ring of said disc 3 is not transparent except for a single slot so that all said course adjustments are blocked from view except for one set,

(5) means to align said disc 3 with the compass heading of said outer compass rose of said disc 1 that is closest to the aircrafts bearing to the airport whereby the corresponding said navigation data are made visible thru said slot on said disc 3.

11. The computer of claim 10 wherein said means to align said disc 3 with the compass heading of said outer compass rose of said disc 1 that is closest to the aircrafts bearing to the airport is:

(1) the diameter of said disc 3 is larger than the diameter of said outer compass rose of said disc 1 but smaller than the diameter of said disc 1,

(2) said disc 3 has a second slot that reveals a single compass heading from said outermost compass rose on said disc 1 with said slot positioned on said disc 3 so that the corresponding navigation data on said disc 2 is made visible thru said slot 1 of said disc 3.

12. The computer of claim 10 further including:

(1) the duplication of said compass roses on said disc 1 on the reverse side of said disc 1,

(2) the addition of a fourth disc mounted in front of said disc 1 on the opposite side of said disc 2 and said disc 3, said disc 4 is similar to said disc 2 but has a diagram of the opposite direction traffic pattern than said disc 2, also, the navigation data on said disc 4 are separately calculated using said method for calculating standard navigation data,

(3) the addition of a fifth disc mounted in front of said disc 5 which is the same as said disc 3 with the exception of a traffic pattern designation which is the opposite of similar designation on said disc 3 whereby the computer will work for both left and right traffic patterns.

13. The computer of claim 12 further including:

(1) handles extending from said discs 2 and 4,

(2) each said handle has enough slots so that no said compass headings on the outer compass rose on either side of said disc one is blocked from view,

(3) said handles are fastened at the base of the handles whereby discs 2 and 4 will remain stationary while the remaining discs are pivoted.

14. A method for navigating to a point from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made utilizing an onboard GPS unit programmed for navigation direct to the airport of intended landing comprising:

(1) a method for calculating standard navigation data utilizing the concept of relative bearings and relative courses as described in the preferred embodiment comprising;

(a) creating a model approach scenario by;

(1) designating the distance and relative bearing from the airport of at least one point from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made called pattern approach point,

(2) designating the distance and relative bearing from the airport of a multitude of points around the airport with an equal distance from the airport called initial approach points,

(3) designating which said pattern approach points may be flown to from which said initial approach points thereby defining relative approach courses for said model,

(b) calculating said navigation data utilizing triangulation for each of the said relative approach courses, said navigation calculations include at least a course adjustment which is the difference between the relative course from the initial approach point to the airport and the relative course from the initial approach point to the pattern approach point,

(2) a step that use a means for storing said navigation data and relating said navigation data to the corresponding said relative approach course for use during flight,

(3) a step that use a means to determine the aircrafts relative bearing to the airport based on the aircraft'"'"'s actual bearing to the airport and the runway number whereby the linked navigation data can be used to adjust course so that said pattern approach point can be flown to.

15. The method of claim 14 further including additional navigation data designating the location of a gate relative to the airport for each said approach course which is calculated by said method for calculating standard navigation data, said gate indicates the position that the turn towards the traffic pattern should be started wherein the turn ends on the prescribed track to the traffic pattern at the approach point.

16. The method of claim 15 further including additional navigational data designating a cross track value of the course direct to the airport for each said approach course which is calculated by said method for calculating standard navigation data, said cross track value is used to create a simulated course deviation indicator wherein course guidance is provided so that the gate can be precisely flown to.