Counter-Balanced Control Stick
AssigneeSafran Electronics & Defense, Avionics USA, LLC
InventorsAndrew Wright, Ryan Fleming
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inceptor systems and control levers for aircraft are described that are substantially mass balanced to eliminate false sensor readings on the control levers due to the presence of external forces such as acceleration acting on the control levers. The lever can be mass balanced using existing components such as the motor and its structure to avoid the need for additional mass. By constricting movement of the motor, this can also avoid the need for additional volume that would otherwise be required for the counterbalancing elements to sweep with movement of the lever. A linkage can be used to restrict movement of the motor while reading forces that acts upon the lever.
Claims17
An inceptor system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a lever having a grip at a first end and configured to rotate about a pivot point at a second end;
- a motor coupled to the lever such that the motor acts as a counterbalance to the lever;
- wherein the lever and motor are mechanically linked by a linkage such that rotation of the lever is transmitted to the motor, wherein the linkage constrains movement of the motor, and wherein the linkage comprises a gear that mechanically couples to a pinion of the motor;
- and
- wherein a center of gravity of the system is approximately at the pivot point.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A control lever of an aircraft, comprising:
- an upper portion having a first mass and comprising a control stick that is configured to rotate about a first axis;
- a lower portion having a second mass and comprising a motor mechanically linked to the control lever via a linkage such that rotation of the lever about the first axis is transmitted to the motor, wherein the linkage constrains movement of the motor and wherein the linkage comprises a gear that mechanically couples to a pinion of the motor;
- and
- wherein a torque at the first axis due to the first mass of the upper portion is approximately equal and opposite to the torque at the first axis due to the second mass of the lower portion.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.