Interconnected sidesticks for fly-by-wire flight control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014648-B2
Application number	US-201815949232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2018
Priority date	Apr 17, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

An interconnected flight controller for an aircraft includes a mechanical linkage connecting a pilot interface with a copilot interface. When an input is provided to either of the pilot or copilot interfaces, coordinated motion is provided between them of a proportional magnitude and direction. A mechanical-disconnect element within the mechanical linkage is adapted to actuate mechanical decoupling between the pilot interface and the copilot interface. One or more sensors is coupled to the mechanical linkage to sense inputs and communicate the inputs to a fly-by-wire flight controller. An autopilot servo is coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing autopilot control or feedback and a force-feedback subsystem is connected to the mechanical linkage to simulate and apply an opposing force of aircraft control surfaces to the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

First claim

We claim:

1. An interconnected flight controller for an aircraft, comprising:
a pilot interface and a copilot interface;
a mechanical linkage connecting the pilot interface with the copilot interface for providing motion therebetween of a proportional magnitude and direction when an input is provided to either of the pilot interface or the copilot interface;
a mechanical-disconnect element within the mechanical linkage, the mechanical-disconnect element being adapted to actuate mechanical decoupling between the pilot interface and the copilot interface;
one or more sensors coupled to the mechanical linkage on a pilot side of the mechanical-disconnect element for sensing pilot inputs and communicating the pilot inputs to a fly-by-wire flight controller;
one or more sensors coupled to the mechanical linkage on a copilot side of the mechanical-disconnect element for sensing copilot inputs and communicating the copilot inputs to the fly-by-wire flight controller; and
adjustable soft stops that provide an increased force gradient to motion of the pilot interface and the copilot interface beyond a predetermined position, the force being increased by one or more of a force bias, a force gradient, and a force step change at the predetermined position,
a force-feedback subsystem connected to the mechanical linkage to simulate and apply an opposing force of aircraft control surfaces to the pilot interface and the copilot interface, wherein the force-feedback subsystem has a clamping type of rotary spring to reduce potential free play.

2. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , further comprising an autopilot servo coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing autopilot control or feedback to the pilot interface and the copilot interface via the mechanical linkage.

3. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the pilot interface and the copilot interface are sidesticks located on outboard sides of the pilot and copilot, respectively.

4. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the pilot interface and the copilot interface are arranged in a front-to-back tandem-style orientation.

5. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical-disconnect element includes a latching disconnect that provides a physical decoupling of the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

6. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical-disconnect element includes a force-fight mechanism that provides a differential motion between the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

7. An interconnected flight controller for an aircraft, comprising:
a pilot interface and a copilot interface;
a mechanical linkage connecting the pilot interface with the copilot interface for providing motion therebetween of a proportional magnitude and direction when an input is provided to either of the pilot interface or the copilot interface;
a mechanical-disconnect element within the mechanical linkage, the mechanical-disconnect element being adapted to actuate mechanical decoupling between the pilot interface and the copilot interface;
one or more sensors coupled to the mechanical linkage on a pilot side of the mechanical-disconnect element for sensing pilot inputs and communicating the pilot inputs to a fly-by-wire flight controller;
one or more sensors coupled to the mechanical linkage on a copilot side of the mechanical-disconnect element for sensing copilot inputs and communicating the copilot inputs to the fly-by-wire flight controller; and
adjustable hard stops that limit travel of the pilot interface and the copilot interface based on aircraft conditions and control law interactions, the hard stops having locations determined by physical stops that are adjustable via an actuator.

8. The interconnected flight controller of claim 7 , wherein the hard stops have stop locations set by torque stops in a roll autopilot servo and torque stops in a pitch autopilot servo.

9. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , further comprising one or more vibration mechanisms for vibrating the pilot interface and the copilot interface to generate a tactile feedback through a grip of the pilot interface and the copilot interface for providing a stall warning indication.

10. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , further comprising a limit device having an actuator that provides small abrupt movements of the pilot interface and the copilot interface based on a predetermined operating limit to assist with maintaining operation of the aircraft within the predetermined operating limit.

11. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a roll mechanical linkage for roll inputs and a pitch mechanical linkage for pitch inputs.

12. The interconnected flight controller of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical disconnect further comprises a roll mechanical-disconnect element within the roll mechanical linkage and a pitch mechanical-disconnect element within the pitch mechanical linkage.

13. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical-disconnect element includes a crew actuated physical release mechanism for physical decoupling of the pilot interface from the copilot interface.

14. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , further comprising a motion damping device that damps the motion of the pilot interface and the copilot interface to prevent induction of oscillation into the mechanical linkage, wherein the motion damping device is coupled directly with the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

15. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , further comprising a motion damping device that damps the motion of the pilot interface and the copilot interface to prevent induction of oscillation into the mechanical linkage, wherein the motion damping device is coupled with the force-feedback subsystem.

16. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined position of the adjustable softstops is adjusted using movable feel mechanisms attached to an actuator.

17. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined position of the adjustable softstops is adjusted via torque stops in a roll autopilot servo and torque stops in a pitch autopilot servo.

18. The interconnected flight controller of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical-disconnect element includes a spring-loaded over-center mechanism for physical decoupling of the pilot interface from the copilot interface.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Eddy Stephen M
• Taylor Jeremy Phillip
• Hagerott Steven G
• Ciholas Philippe A

Classifications

• B64C13/16

  actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors · CPC title

• B64C13/507

  with artificial feel · CPC title

• B64C13/345

  with artificial feel · CPC title

• B64C13/503

  Fly-by-Wire · CPC title

• B64C13/0421

  control sticks for primary flight controls · CPC title