The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2000
Scott D. Patterson, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A non-flying land based training or testing vehicle with helicopter style main controls and capable of transporting at least one human operator. A preferred embodiment includes a chassis; ground contacting wheels supporting the chassis; a power-plant for driving a wheel and propelling the vehicle; at least one seat for the operator. The controls simulating helicopter controls are within reach of the operator and operatively connected with a computer and electric/hydraulic mechanisms (for example only) to provide similar effects as helicopter controls when manipulated. Such controls include a hand manipulable cyclic (joystick) providing an X-axis output for steering vehicle heading and a Y-axis output for determining forward or reverse travel; a lever style hand operated collective applying various loads to the power-plant to simulate changes in main-rotor blade pitch; and a grip for power-plant RPM manual manipulation by the operator for learning or practicing the maintenance of RPM under changing loads associated with various positions of the collective. Also included is a pair of foot pedals for making the rear wheels steer more than or less than the front wheels in a four wheel steering embodiment, and for simulating tail-rotor blade pitch or anti-torque control of a helicopter.