An aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019161170-A1
Application number	US-201716092888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 11, 2016
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aircraft ( 101 ) is provided with a single centrally located inceptor ( 110 ) for controlling pitch and roll of the aircraft. The inceptor ( 110 ) is provided with a double grip ( 11, 112 ) so that it may be comfortably operated by either a pilot or a co-pilot. A central location for the inceptor ensures that its motion and position is visible to both pilot and co-pilot. Not only is this a benefit from a safety point of view but also during pilot training. Alternatively, two inceptors ( 411, 412 ) are provided in the centre console ( 406 ) adjacent to one another for operation respectively by the pilot and co-pilot and may be mechanically linked. Optionally, the aircraft may be provided with outboard throttle quadrants ( 117, 118 ) for operation respectively by the co-pilot and pilot. The outboard throttle quadrants may be mechanically linked together.

First claim

1 . An aircraft having a cockpit for occupation by a pilot and a co-pilot seated side by side, the cockpit including a single control stick arrangement for controlling pitch and roll of the aircraft and being located in a central region of the cockpit between the pilot and co-pilot for operation by the pilot and/or the co-pilot.

2 . The aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the single control stick arrangement incorporates first and second grips mounted in the same horizontal plane.

3 . The aircraft according to claim 2 wherein the first and second grips are contoured so that the first grip can be comfortably operated by a left hand and the second grip can be comfortably operated by a right hand.

4 . The aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the single control stick arrangement includes jam mitigation.

5 . The aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the single control stick arrangement is mounted in a centre console of the cockpit.

6 . The aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the aircraft includes a fly by wire system which includes the single control stick arrangement.

7 . The aircraft according to claim 6 wherein the single control stick arrangement is provided with at least one of a force sensor and a position sensor.

8 . The aircraft according to claim 1 including an additional control stick arrangement for controlling pitch and roll of the aircraft and located in a central region of the cockpit for operation by the pilot or the co-pilot and adjacent to the single control stick arrangement.

9 . The aircraft according to claim 8 wherein the aircraft includes a fly by wire system which includes the single control stick and additional control stick arrangements.

10 . The aircraft according to claim 9 wherein the single control stick and additional control stick arrangements are each provided with at least one of a force sensor and a position sensor.

11 . The aircraft according to claim 8 wherein the single stick control and additional stick control arrangements are mounted in a centre console of the cockpit.

12 . The aircraft according to claim 8 wherein the single control stick arrangement and additional control stick arrangement are linked together.

13 . The aircraft according to claim 12 wherein the single control stick arrangement and additional control stick arrangement are linked by a mechanical linkage mounted underneath a centre console of the cockpit.

14 . The aircraft according to claim 12 wherein the single control stick arrangement and additional control stick arrangement are linked electrically.

15 . The aircraft according to claim 1 including first and second throttle quadrant arrangements positioned at outboard locations for operation, respectively, by the pilot and the co-pilot of the aircraft.

16 . The aircraft according to claim 15 and including a mechanical linkage for linking the first and second throttle quadrant arrangements together mechanically.

17 . The aircraft according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical linkage is located underneath a floor of the cockpit.

18 . The aircraft according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical linkage is located above a floor of the cockpit.

19 . The aircraft according to claim 15 wherein the first and second throttle quadrant arrangements are linked together electrically.

20 . The aircraft according to claim 19 wherein the first and second throttle quadrant arrangements each include a respective position sensor and drive motor.

21 . The aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the single control stick arrangement is provided with at least one thrust control element.

22 . The aircraft according to claim 8 wherein both single control stick and additional control stick arrangements are provided with a thrust control element.

23 . The aircraft according to claim 21 wherein the thrust control element is a thumb-operated element.

24 . The aircraft according to claim 21 including two thrust control elements which are either mechanically or electrically linked together.

25 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Taylor Adam

Classifications

• B64D43/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64C13/0421 Primary

  control sticks for primary flight controls · CPC title

• B64C13/12

  Dual control apparatus · CPC title

• G05G9/047

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

• B64C13/04 Primary

  actuated personally · CPC title