Above-the-floor rudder and brake control system

A modular brake and rudder control system for use in a vehicle having a control center with a control deck floor, and having an electronically controlled brake system and an electronically controlled rudder system, the modular brake and rudder control system comprising:

• A housing comprising a cover enclosing an internal frame with a base portion that mounts in the control center fully above the control deck floor, the frame having forward and aft portions and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, a guide rod being coupled to the forward and aft portions;
• Electrical connectors connected to the housing and operatively connectable to the brake and rudder systems;
• A pair of pedal assemblies movably coupled to the guide rod and being longitudinally movable relative to the housing between forward and aft positions, the pedal assemblies each having a foot pedal exterior of and adjacent to opposing sides of the cover and a mounting member attached to the foot pedal and extending at least partially past the cover, each foot pedal being engageable by an operator, each pedal assembly being independently rotatable and longitudinally movable relative to the housing;
• A brake control system in the housing and connected to the pedal assemblies, the brake control system having a first movement sensor operatively coupled to at least a first one of the pedal assemblies and connected to at least a first one of the electrical connectors that connects to the brake system, the first sensor configured to provide a first signal through the first electrical connector to the brake system for actuation of the brake system;
• and
• A rudder control system in the housing and having a rotatable rudder control shaft extending between the forward and aft portions of the frame, the rudder control system having a control fitting longitudinally movable along the rudder control shaft and rotatable with the rudder control shaft, the control fitting being coupled to the guide structure and longitudinally movable with the pedal assemblies relative to the guide member between the forward and aft pedal positions, the rudder control system configured to detect rotational movement of the rudder control shaft caused by equal and opposite longitudinal motion of the foot pedals and configured to provide a second signal to the rudder system.

A modular brake and rudder control system for use in an aircraft having a cockpit with a flight deck floor, and having fly-by-wire brake system and a fly-by-wire rudder system, the modular brake and rudder control system comprising:

• A housing comprising a frame and a cover over the frame, the frame has a base portion removably attachable atop the control deck floor without penetrating through the floor when the modular brake and rudder control system is operatively connected to the brake and rudder systems, the housing having a guide member;
• Electrical connectors connected to the housing and operatively connectable to the brake and rudder systems;
• A pair of pedal assemblies coupled to the housing, connected to a guide structure movably connected to the guide member, the pedal assemblies and the guide structure being movable as a unit between forward and aft pedal positions relative to the housing, each pedal assembly being rotatable and longitudinally moveable relative to the housing, wherein the pedal assemblies each have a foot pedal and a mounting member, wherein the mounting members project from opposing side portions of the housing with the cover located between the foot pedals;
• A brake control system in the housing and connected to the pedal assemblies, the brake control system provides a first signal to the brake system for actuation of the brake system;
• and
• A rudder control system in the housing and carried by the frame, the rudder control system is connected to the pedal assemblies and is operable independent of the brake control system, the rudder control system having a rotatable rudder control shaft and having a control fitting longitudinally movable along the rudder control shaft and rotatable with the rudder control shaft, the control fitting being coupled to the guide structure and longitudinally movable with the pedal assemblies relative to the guide member between the forward and aft pedal positions, the rudder control system is connected to at least a first one of the electrical connectors that connects to the rudder system, the rudder control system detects longitudinal motion of the pedal assemblies and provides a second signal through the first one of the electrical connectors to the rudder system;
• Wherein the housing, the electrical connectors, the pedal assemblies, the brake control system and the rudder control system define a modular component installable and removable from the cockpit as a unit.