Inherently balanced control stick

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875628-B2
Application number	US-201816151017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2018
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of actuating a control apparatus, the method comprising:
providing a control apparatus comprising:
a first mounting member;
an elongate member comprising:
a first elongate portion configured as a first lever arm having a first mass;
a second elongate portion configured as a second lever arm having a second mass; and
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 between the first lever arm and the second lever arm;

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 and a motor configured to urge travel of the interface along the track;
wherein the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion are configured to be substantially balanced across the first axis, the first mass substantially offsets the second mass across the first axis member, and the mass of the first elongate portion is arranged to create, when exposed to acceleration forces, a first torque about the first axis that substantially neutralizes a second torque created about the first axis when the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly is exposed to the acceleration forces;

urging, by the first motor, travel of the first interface device;
modifying, by the first interface device, a movement of the second elongate portion along the track; and
modifying, by the movement of the second elongate portion along the track, a first torque developed about the first axis.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the elongate member to acceleration forces, wherein acceleration of the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially creates a torque about the first axis member that offsets a torque about the first axis member created by acceleration of the mass of the first elongate portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the track comprises a collection of gear teeth, and the first interface device includes a gear configured to engage the gear teeth such that the gear travels along the track in response to rotation of the motor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gear defines a second axis that is radial to the first axis, the gear teeth are arranged radial to the first axis, and the gear engages the gear teeth perpendicular to the first axis.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gear defines a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, the track has an outer surface radially distal from the first axis and an inner surface radially proximal to the first axis, and the collection of gear teeth are arranged along the inner surface parallel to the first axis.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gear defines a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, the track has an outer surface radially distal from the first axis and an inner surface radially proximal to the first axis, and the collection of gear teeth are arranged along the outer surface parallel to the first axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , the control apparatus further comprising:
a second mounting member;
a second axis member between the first mounting member and the second mounting member, pivotally mounting the second mounting member to the first mounting member and defining a third axis perpendicular to and intersecting with the first axis; and
a second feedback assembly comprising a second interface device and a second motor configured to drive the second interface device to modify travel of the actuator to modify movement of the second elongate portion partly about the third axis; wherein the method further comprises:
urging, by the second motor, travel of the second interface device;
modifying, by the second interface device, a movement of the second elongate portion about the third axis; and
modifying a second torque developed about the third axis.

Assignees

• Woodward Inc

Inventors

• Voiles Jeffrey T
• Rickenbrode Steven E
• Ramos Alexander
• Gebka Randall E

Classifications

• G05G2009/04718

  with cardan or gimbal type joint · CPC title

• G05G2009/04766

  providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce · CPC title

• B64C13/0421 Primary

  control sticks for primary flight controls · CPC title

• G05G9/047

  the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} · CPC title

• B64C13/343

  overriding of personal controls; with automatic return to inoperative position · CPC title