US 2011/0213514 A1Published application

Aviation yoke hsi interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system

OwnerStephen Baxterinventor

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Abstract

An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system enhances flight safety. The system incorporates a multi-controlled HSI with a yoke heading adjustment control, a yoke radial/course selector, and a yoke heading centering control positioned on a yoke, stick, or collective. The system may also incorporate a first officer multi-controlled HSI with a first officer yoke heading adjustment control, a first officer yoke radial/course selector, and a first officer yoke heading and course centering control. An autopilot mode indicator visually indicates whether an autopilot is flying according to a desired heading or according to a navigational aid signal, such as a VOR radial signal. A side selector-indicator control permits selection of which side controls the flight of the aircraft.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) for allowing a pilot to sit in a seat (12) on a flight deck (10) of an aircraft, to grip a captain yoke (14), to observe an instrument panel (20), and to conveniently and safely modify a desired heading while gripping the captain yoke (14), comprising:

(A) a multi-controlled HSI (200), having:
(i) at least a portion of a compass (210) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth's magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of a compass (210) has at least a portion of a compass perimeter (212) and a plurality of radial measurement indicia (214) that are located along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the at least a portion of a compass (210) rotates in response to a change in an actual heading of the aircraft;
(ii) a heading indicator (220) that visually indicates a fixed reference on the multi-controlled HSI (200), wherein the heading indicator (220) is located in readable relationship with the radial measurement indicia (214), whereby the actual heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the radial measurement indicia (214) with the heading indicator (220);
(iii) an adjustable heading bug (230) that visually indicates the desired heading of the aircraft, wherein the adjustable heading bug (230) is selectively positioned along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) such that the adjustable heading bug (230) rotates with the at least a portion of the compass (210), whereby the desired heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the adjustable heading bug (230) with the radial measurement indicia (214);
and
(B) a yoke heading adjustment control (300) that controls the position of the adjustable heading bug (230), wherein the yoke heading adjustment control (300) is on the captain yoke (14), and operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) moves the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212).

3 more elements

An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) for allowing a pilot to sit in a seat (12) on a flight deck (10) of an aircraft, to grip a captain yoke (14), to observe an instrument panel (20), and to conveniently and safely select a radial/course while gripping the captain yoke (14), comprising:

(A) a multi-controlled HSI (200), having:
(i) at least a portion of a compass (210) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth's magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of the compass (210) has at least a portion of a compass perimeter (212) and a plurality of radial measurement indicia (214) that are located along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the at least a portion of the compass (210) rotates in response to a change in an actual heading of the aircraft;
(ii) a navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) that visually indicates a representation of the radial/course, wherein the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) is positioned within the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) rotates with the at least a portion of the compass (210) in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft, and the navigational aid radial/course indictor (250) translates within the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) as the aircraft flies along the actual heading;
and
(B) a yoke radial/course selector (310) that controls selection of the radial/course indicated by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250), wherein the yoke radial/course selector (310) is on the captain yoke (14), and operation of the yoke radial/course selector (310) selects the radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250).

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/103,140Filed 9 May 2011
Priority: 27 Nov 2006
Published: 1 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G01C 23/00
Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value
G01C
Measuring distances, levels or bearings

Family

Application11/604,523Continuation · filed 27 Nov 2006
Application12/904,202Continuation in part · filed 14 Oct 2010
Application13/103,140Continuation in part
Application12/904,202Continuation
US 2008/0125921 A1Published application
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US 2011/0213514 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.