Foot Control In A Vehicle Capable Of Flying In Air
AssigneePal-V IP B.V.
InventorSander de Roos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid fly/drive vehicle capable of being converted between a flying mode in which it is capable of flying in air and a road riding mode in which it is capable of driving on a road in normal traffic, includes an arrangement to allow the engine to be pedal-controlled in road riding mode and lever-controlled in flying mode, and further includes pedals for engine control and possibly clutch actuation in road riding mode and for rudder control in flying mode, which pedals also actuate the brakes in flying mode.
Claims33
A hybrid fly/drive vehicle, capable of being converted between a flying mode in which it is capable of flying in air and a road riding mode in which it is capable of driving on a road, the vehicle comprising:
- a body with a passenger cabin, a set of wheels for riding on road, lifting means for providing lift for flying in air, and propelling means for propelling the vehicle while airborne;
- an engine assembly, comprising an engine provided with a throttle bias member connected to the throttle input member and effective to exert on the throttle input member a throttle bias force to bias the engine towards full throttle, the engine assembly further comprising a throttle control member connected to the throttle input member and arranged to exert on the throttle input member a variable throttle control force opposite to throttle bias force in order to control engine power;
- wherein, in the flying mode, the engine is connected to drive the propelling means;
- wherein, in the road riding mode, the engine is connected to drive at least one of the wheels;
- wherein the vehicle further comprises:
- a first user-controlled engine power control arrangement for controlling engine power in the flying mode;
- and
- a second user-controlled engine power control arrangement for controlling engine power in the road riding mode;
- wherein the first user-controlled engine power control arrangement comprises a throttle control lever continuously coupled to the throttle control member;
- and
- wherein the second user-controlled engine power control arrangement comprises a pedal-controlled actuator coupled between the throttle control lever and the throttle control member, and an accelerator pedal for controlling the pedal-controlled actuator.
A hybrid fly/drive vehicle, capable of being converted between a flying mode in which it is capable of flying in air and a road riding mode in which it is capable of driving on a road in normal traffic, the vehicle comprising:
- a first actuator operative in the flying mode to actuate a first flying mode function;
- a second actuator operative in the road riding mode to actuate a first road riding mode function;
- a dual function human interface control member for selectively controlling the operation of the first actuator or the second actuator;
- and
- a selection switch having a flying mode position and a road riding mode position, associated with the first actuator, the second actuator and the human interface control member, wherein the selection switch is configured:
- in its flying mode position, to couple the human interface control member to the first actuator;
- and
- in its road riding mode position, to couple the human interface control member to the second actuator.
A hybrid fly/drive vehicle, capable of being converted between a flying mode in which it is capable of and certified for flying in air and a road riding mode in which it is capable of and certified for driving on a road in normal traffic, the vehicle comprising:
- a first foot pedal with associated first hydraulic control unit;
- a second foot pedal with associated second hydraulic control unit;
- a loop of hydraulic lines between the first hydraulic control unit and the second hydraulic control unit;
- an arrangement of at least one hydraulic rudder control actuator included in the loop, configured to control to position of at least one rudder as controlled by displacement of the foot pedals;
- and
- at least one hydraulic selection switch included in the loop between one of the hydraulic control units and the arrangement of at least one hydraulic rudder control actuator, the hydraulic selection switch having a flying mode position and a road riding mode position, wherein:
- in its flying mode position, the at least one hydraulic selection switch hydraulically connects the one of the hydraulic control units to the arrangement of at least one hydraulic rudder control actuator;
- and
- in its road riding mode position, the at least one hydraulic selection switch hydraulically seals off the arrangement of at least one hydraulic rudder control actuator and hydraulically connects the one of the hydraulic control units to an associated road riding function actuator.
A vehicle, capable of and certified for flying in air and comprising:
- a landing gear including lefthand and righhand wheels, each wheel being provided with respective brakes;
- at least one rudder for yaw control;
- a set of pedals for controlling rudder position and for actuating the brakes;
- and
- a pedal force sensing and control system capable of sensing pedal force and, depending on pedal force, selectively operating in:
- a first operative condition when each pedal force is below a respective threshold value, in which case the pedals exclusively control the at least one rudder for yaw control;
- a second operative condition when each pedal force is above the respective threshold value, in which case both brakes are actuated to the same extent;
- and
- a third operative condition when one pedal force is above the respective threshold value while the other pedal force is below the respective threshold value, in which case only the one brake corresponding to the one pedal is actuated.
-33. (canceled)
A hybrid fly/drive vehicle, capable of being converted between a flying mode in which it is capable of and certified for flying in air and a road riding mode in which it is capable of and certified for driving on a road in normal traffic, comprising an engine and an arrangement to allow the engine to be pedal-controlled in road riding mode and lever-controlled in flying mode, and further comprising pedals for throttle or clutch actuation in road riding mode and for rudder control in flying mode, which pedals also actuate the brakes in flying mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.