US 5,214,855 AGranted

Instrument flight navigational apparatus and method

OwnerCharles W. Gibbsinventor

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Abstract

An instrument flight navigational apparatus includes a flat board having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, a circular holding pattern template of transparent material and having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, a compass protractor of transparent material having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, and a flat elongated needle of transparent material having a center hole and a pointer displayed on a front face relative to the center hole. The apparatus also includes a plurality of annular spacers disposed between the board, template, protractor and needle for spacing the template from the board, the protractor from the template and the needle from the protractor so as to allow rotation of the template, protractor and needle independent of one another and relative to one another and to the board. The apparatus further includes a releasable fastener for extending through the center holes of the board, template, protractor and needle for aligning and overlaying the board, template, protractor and needle and releasably clamping them at any desired rotational angular position relative to one another. The first, second and third indicia and the pointer displayed on the respective board, template, protractor and needle are data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An instrument flight navigational apparatus, comprising:

(a) first means for defining a first center point and a display of a first indicia arranged relative to said first center point;
(b) second means for defining a second center point and a display of a second indicia arranged relative to said second center point;
(c) third means for defining a third center point and a display of a third indicia arranged relative to said third center point;
(d) fourth means for defining a fourth center point and a display of a pointer arranged relative to said fourth center point;
(e) said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360.degree. compass about said first center point, a first direction-of-flight line extending through said first center point to said markings at 0.degree. and 180.degree. of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said first center point between said compass and said first center point, and entry arcs about said first center point adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said second center point and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360.degree. scale extending about said third center point;
and
(f) fifth means for positioning said first, second third and fourth means such that said first, second, third and fourth center points are aligned with one another and said displays of said first, second and third indicia and said display of said pointer are overlaid on one another for permitting relative rotational movement of said overlaid displays relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment:
(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) stations;
(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;
(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;
(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials;
and (v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

9 more elements

An instrument flight navigational apparatus, comprising:

(a) a flat board having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a central location of an upper portion of said board, and a first indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said central hole of said board;
(b) a generally circular holding pattern template of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a center of said template, and a second indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said center hole of said template;
(c) a compass protractor of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a center of said protractor, and a third indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said center hole of said protractor;
(d) a flat elongated needle of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a middle portion of said needle pointer, and a pointer displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said hole of said needle;
(e) said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360.degree. compass about said center hole of said board, a first direction-of-flight line extending from said central hole to said markings at 0.degree. and 180.degree. of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said central hole between said compass and said central hole, and entry arcs about said central hole adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said center hole of said template and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said second direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360.degree. scale extending about said center hole of said protractor;
and
(f) means for positioning said board, template, protractor and needle such that said holes thereof are aligned with one another and said displays of said first, second and third indicia and said display of said pointer are overlaid on one another and for permitting relative rotational movement of said overlaid displays relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment:
(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) stations;
(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;
(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;
(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials;
and (v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

9 more elements

An instrument flight navigational method, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining separate first, second, third and fourth displays of first, second and third indicia and a pointer, each of said separate displays being arranged relative to a center point, said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360.degree. compass about said center point of said first display, a first direction-of-flight line extending through said center point of said first display to said markings at 0.degree. and 180.degree. of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said center point of said first display between said compass and center point thereof, and entry arcs about said center hole adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said center point of said second display and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said second direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360.degree. scale extending about said center point of said third display;
(b) overlaying said first, second, third and fourth displays on one another with said center points thereof aligned with one another;
and
(c) selectively rotating and setting any one of said overlaid first, second, third and fourth displays of said first, second and third indicia and said pointer relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment:
(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) station;
(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;
(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;
(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials;
and (v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.