Integrated helicopter flight control
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsJohn A. Stephens, Ralph J. Kibler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helicopter rotor control mechanism is provided in which cyclic and collive rotor control functions are performed by a single integrated control having three degrees of freedom and operable by either or both hands of the pilot as desired. The integrated control comprises a floor mounted control column rotatable about a fore and aft collective pitch control axis and a pair of hand grips mounted for rotation about two independent cyclic control axes (by one or both hands of the operator) in a control head assembly mounted on the upper end of the floor mounted control column. The floor column and control head effect displacement of collective pitch, cyclic pitch and cyclic roll output rods for ultimate control of the helicopter rotor.
Claims8
In a flight control means for helicopters, means generating cyclic and collective control function commmands for rotor control heads of the swash plate type, comprising:
- a main control column having pivot means at one end thereof mounting said column for rotation in a fore and aft plane to provide a collective pitch control means;
- a cyclic control head mounted at the other end of said control column comprising:
- cyclic pitch control means mounted in said control head for rotation in a second plane parallel to said fore and aft plane;
- and
- cyclic roll control means mounted on said control head for rotation in a third plane perpendicular to said fore and aft and second planes;
- common actuating means for said collective pitch, cyclic pitch and cyclic roll control means including first and second handgrips mounted on opposite sides of said cyclic control head and having common interconnections with said collective and cyclic control means to permit full actuation of said function command generating means with each of said handgrips;
- collective pitch, cyclic pitch and cyclic roll control output means extending from said control column for interconnection with the said rotor control head;
- and
- actuating means respectively interconnecting said control output means with said cyclic control head;
- wherein said cyclic control head includes first shaft means mounting said handgrips one on each end thereof for rotation in said second plane;
- pivot means mounting each of said handgrips on said ends of said first shaft means for rotation in said third plane;
- first bell crank and lever means driven by said first shaft means;
- a displaceable yoke means driven by said handgrips axially of said first shaft means in response to rotation of said handgrips in said third plane;
- and
- second bell crank and lever means driven by said yoke means;
- and
- wherein said control column includes crank means drivingly interconnecting the lowermost end of said control column, below said control column pivot means, with said collective pitch control output means;
- said first bell crank and lever means drivingly interconnecting said handgrips with said cyclic pitch control output means;
- and
- said second bell crank and lever means drivingly interconnecting said handgrips with said cyclic roll control output means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.