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AssigneeMesserschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH
InventorHerbert Koenig
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The steering or control force for operating a steering column in an aircraft, especially in a rotary wing aircraft, is stabilized. The steering column influences through an articulated steering or control linkage the elevator assembly or the rotor blade adjustment, whereby a signal is employed which is dependent on the measured flight speed. It is necessary to signal to the pilot at all times how the steering column must be moved. Such signalling must be definite and free of any disturbing influences and the pilot must receive such signalling through the steering column manual force which is a force reacting to the operation of the steering column. For this purpose a speed dependent signal is supplied to a servomotor. This signal rises with the flight speed at least above a preselectable threshold value. The servomotor in turn controls the tensioning state of a spring which is pivoted at one end to the steering column and at the other end to the displacement member of the servomotor. Preferably, the point of articulation between the spring and the steering column is located approximately opposite the point of articulation between the steering column and the steering or control linkage. Additionally, a feedback signal derived from sensing the displacement caused by the servomotor is added to the speed dependent signal. The feedback signal varies in the same sense as the displacement caused by the servomotor and serves to achieve proportionality between the signal S and said displacement.
A method for stabilizing the steering force in an aircraft, wherein a steering column is connected in an articulated manner through a steering linkage to controlled means, comprising the following steps:
An apparatus for stabilizing the steering force in an aircraft, comprising a steering column, and controlled means for said stabilizing, pivoting means and steering linkage means for connecting said steering column to said controlled means in an articulated manner, flight speed sensing means for measuring the flight speed, circuit means connected to said flight speed sensing means for producing a speed dependent signal, servomotor means, spring means and pivot connecting means for operatively connecting said servomotor means to said steering column for imparting a reaction force to said steering column in accordance with the tension state of said spring means, said pivot connecting means securing one end of said spring to said steering column at a point located approximately opposite a point at which said steering linkage means is articulated or pivoted to said steering column, pick-up means connected to said servomotor means for producing a displacement dependent feedback signal, signal combining means connected for receiving said speed dependent signal and said feedback signal to produce a control signal, means connecting an output of said signal combining means to a control input of said servomotor means for modifying said reaction force by the instantaneous spring tension state which signals to the pilot the correct movement direction to be imparted to the steering column.
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said circuit means for operatively connecting one or the other pole of said trimming voltage source to an input of said signal combining means comprise a proportional amplifier and an integrating circuit connected in series with said proportional amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.