Woodward, Inc.

Jeffrey T Voiles

Roy Romana

Steven E Rickenbrode

Darryl S Stachniak

Alexander Ramos

Randall E Gebka

David M Thunga

An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.

Rudder and brake pedal assembly

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, a pivot member defining an axis, an elongate member configured to pivot about the axis and having a first elongate portion configured as a first lever arm extending away from the pivot member in a first direction, a second elongate portion extending away from the pivot member in a second direction opposite the first direction, a retainer bracket affixed to the second elongate portion, a gimbal moveably affixed to the first mounting member between the pivot member and the retainer bracket, a force bracket moveably affixed to the second elongate portion by the retainer bracket, and a bias member configured to urge movement of the force bracket in the second direction.

Soft stop force gradient for control stick

A cable-linked brake pedal assembly for an airplane. The assembly includes a first cable assembly with a first end attached to a pilot-side brake pedal and a second end attached to a first bell crank assembly, and a second cable assembly with a first end attached to a copilot-side brake pedal and a second end attached to a second bell crank assembly. A first connecting rod with a first rod end is attached to the first bell crank assembly and a second rod end is attached to the second bell crank assembly. The connection between the first and second cable assemblies, first and second bell crank assemblies, and first connecting rod is configured such that depressing the pilot-side brake pedal moves the first cable assembly, first connecting rod, and second cable assembly in such a way as to cause a corresponding depression of the copilot-side brake pedal.

Cable-linked brake pedal assemblies

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.

Inherently balanced control stick

A control apparatus includes a first mounting plate, a restoring plate having a first surface disposed adjacent the first mounting plate, and a second surface. The control apparatus also includes an elongate member that includes a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, an axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting plate and defining a first axis, a displaceable force plate having a substantially flat surface disposed adjacent the second surface of the restoring plate, and a compliant member providing a biasing force between a retaining portion and the force plate against the second surface of the restoring plate. The mass of the second elongate portion substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the axis member.

Growing community of inventors

Niles, IL, United States of America

Jeffrey T Voiles