Active control stick assembly including traction drive
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsCasey Hanlon, Dave Eschborn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An active control stick assembly. In one embodiment, the active control stick assembly includes a housing assembly, a control stick coupled to the assembly housing for rotation about at least a first rotational axis, a first artificial force feel (AFF) motor disposed in the housing assembly, and a first traction drive mechanically coupling the first AFF motor to the control stick. A controller is operatively coupled to the first AFF motor. The controller is configured to selectively activate the first AFF motor to supply a torque through the first traction drive and acting on the control stick about the first rotational axis.
Claims20
An active control stick assembly, comprising:
- a housing assembly;
- a control stick coupled to the housing assembly for rotation about at least a first rotational axis;
- a first artificial force feel (AFF) motor disposed in the housing assembly;
- a first traction drive mechanically coupling the first AFF motor to the control stick;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first AFF motor, the controller configured to selectively activate the first AFF motor to supply a torque through the first traction drive to the control stick about the first rotational axis.
An active control stick assembly for piloting an aircraft, the active control stick assembly comprising:
- a housing assembly;
- a control stick mounted to the housing assembly and configured for rotation about at least a first rotational axis;
- a position sensor coupled to the control stick and configured to monitor the position thereof;
- a first artificial force feel (AFF) motor disposed in the housing assembly;
- a controller operatively coupled to the position sensor and to the first AFF motor, the controller configured to selectively energize the first AFF motor;
- and
- a first traction drive mechanically coupling the first AFF motor to the control stick, the first AFF motor driving through the first traction drive to produce active force feedback about the first rotational axis of the control stick when the first AFF motor is energized by the controller.
An active control stick assembly for piloting an aircraft, the active control stick assembly comprising:
- a housing assembly;
- a control stick;
- a gimbal assembly coupling the control stick to the housing assembly such that the control stick is rotatable about a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis;
- a first artificial force feel (AFF) motor disposed in the housing assembly;
- a first planetary traction drive mechanically coupling the first AFF motor to the gimbal assembly, the first AFF motor driving through the first traction drive to selectively produce active force feedback along the first rotational axis of the control stick;
- a second artificial force feel (AFF) motor disposed in the housing assembly;
- and
- a second planetary traction drive mechanically coupling the second AFF motor to the gimbal assembly, the second AFF motor driving through the second traction drive to selectively produce active force feedback along the second rotational axis of the control stick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.