British Aerospace Public Limited Company

British Aerospace Plc

Arthur Kaye

Philip A Latham

Brian Carr

A control mechanism for a displaceable control member such as an aircraft pilot's 'joystick' includes an array of pressure transducers (20) in contact with a pressure plate (22) which in turn is in pivotal connection with the control member (10) operated by the pilot. Adjustable springs (26) bias the pressure plate (22) towards the transducers (20). Pivotal movement of the control member (10) tends to compress the springs (26) and to cause the transducers (20) to generate output signals representative of differential pressure. The signals are then processed by circuitry (34) to provide inputs to flight control computers.

Control mechanism for use with an operator-actuated control member

To eliminate undesired movement of control members, e.g. throttle control levers, subjected to high fore-and-aft accelerations, a mechanism is proposed in which brake pads (229), (231) bearing on a control surface (220) forming part of the control member are connected by a pivoted lever arrangement (203) to a pendulum (200). Oscillations of the pendulum due for fore-and-aft `g` forces cause a proportional displacement of the lever arrangement (203) which in turn causes one or other of the brake pads (229, 231) to apply a correspondingly greater frictional force to the control surface (220).

Acceleration-sensitive friction device

Control apparatus comprises a throttle stick suitable for STOVL aircraft which incorporates vectorable nozzle control means with thrust demand, thus obviating the need for a separate control lever for controlling vectorable nozzles. A handle (10) rotates to pre-determined angular positions in response to operator-exerted pressure, said pressure being sensed by force transducers (7a, 7b) hence providing the operator with tactile feedback proportional to thrust demand. A control lever (2) attached to the handle (10) is pivotable about a hinge pin (8). Rotation of the lever (2) about the pin (8) is sensed by a potentiometer (9) whose output is used to control vectorable nozzles.

Control apparatus

A force control throttle suitable for military or civil aircraft which is stowable in a console when not required for use. Fore and aft forces applied to the throttle handle by the pilot are sensed by pressure transducers which generate, in response, signals for controlling engine thrust. Tactile information relating to engine thrust demand is fed back to the pilot by means of a drive motor which tilts the throttle handle as fore or aft pressure is exerted. The angle of tilt is a function of the degree of pressure exerted and the demanded engine thrust.

Force sensitive aircraft throttle with feedback

An electro-hydraulic actuator assembly comprises a master piston-and-cylinder 32, 42 connected to be driven by a rotary actuator 56 and hydraulically connected to a slave master piston-and-cylinder 12 coupled to an output member, e.g. a throttle linkage rod 10, for automatic control of the displacement of the member 10. An override for manual control of the member 10 is provided by a valve 60 which, when opened, hydraulically shortcircuits the member 10 by equalizing pressures on the two sides of the slave piston 16. To re-establish automatic control and synchronize master and slave, a (possibly remote) controller 80 shuts the valve 60 and drives the actuator 56 until master and slave pistons both attain end positions; if necessary, by reopening valve 60 for a short time and continuing to drive the actuator 56.

Electro-hydraulic actuator assembly

Control apparatus comprising a lever, foot pedal or other operating member which is coupled to an electrical stepper motor operable, under the control of a computer say, to generate detents and feel forces resisting the movement of the member and thereby impart information to the operator. For example, a detent or position of marked resistance can be introduced into the movement range of say a car throttle pedal to indicate to the driver a pedal position giving optimum economy of fuel. The detent position can be changed within the overall range of pedal movement in dependence upon instant driving parameters such as speed. As well as detents, programmed and/or external condition dependent feel forces can be generated.

Control apparatus, for example a thrust demand unit or 'throttle box' for an aircraft, comprises a manually movable control grip coupled to drive motor means comprising twin magnetically interactive components and operable for automatic movement of the control grip, e.g. under autopilot control, while allowing override by the operator e.g. the pilot of an aircraft. The drive motor may be a linear motor, particularly a motor comprising a rod and rider each having pole teeth defining relative positions of minimum magnetic reluctance between the rod and rider, and winding means for moving the rider stepwise between said positions.

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Preston, United Kingdom

Arthur Kaye