Wingtip control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296472-B2
Application number	US-201314056475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a wingtip control system. The wingtip control system comprises a switch system for a flight deck of an aircraft and a controller. The switch system is configured to be placed into an armed state and generate an armed signal. The controller is in communication with the switch system. The controller is configured to receive the armed signal from the switch system, visually indicate a desired position for a wingtip of the aircraft in the switch system in response to an event occurring during operation of the aircraft, and generate a movement command to move the wingtip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wingtip control system comprising:
a switch system for a flight deck of an aircraft, such that the switch system comprises a visual indication of a desired position for a wingtip of the aircraft, and an interface configured to be placed into an armed state and generate an armed signal; and
a controller in communication with the switch system, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive the armed signal from the switch system;
receive an indication of an occurrence of an event for the aircraft;
present, in the switch system, the visual indication based upon reception of the armed signal and the indication of the occurrence of the event; and
generate, based upon a presentation of the visual indication in the switch system, a movement command to move the wingtip.

2. The wingtip control system of claim 1 , wherein the switch system is configured to be placed into the armed state prior to at least one of: a takeoff, and a landing of the aircraft.

3. The wingtip control system of claim 1 , wherein the switch system comprises a first switch and a second switch, wherein the first switch is configured to be placed into the armed state and the second switch is configured to visually indicate the desired position for the wingtip of the aircraft in response to the event.

4. The wingtip control system of claim 3 further comprising:
a first visual indication associated with the first switch and configured to indicate the armed state of the first switch; and
a second visual indication associated with the second switch and configured to indicate the desired position of the wingtip of the aircraft to be sent to the controller.

5. The wingtip control system of claim 3 , wherein the second switch is further configured to be moved manually by a flight crew between a first position and a second position to perform an operation selected from at least one of: command movement of the wingtip, and disable the armed state of the first switch.

6. The wingtip control system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to move the second switch to visually indicate the desired position for the wingtip of the aircraft in response to the event and further configured to generate the movement command to move the wingtip responsive to movement of the second switch.

7. The wingtip control system of claim 3 , wherein the switch system comprises a switch selected from one of: a lever, a rotary knob, a button, a slider, a physical switch, and a graphical switch displayed on a display device.

8. The wingtip control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the wingtip of the aircraft using a wingtip movement system in response to the movement command.

9. The wingtip control system of claim 1 , wherein the event is selected from at least one of a position of the aircraft, a phase of flight of the aircraft, a speed of the aircraft, or a position of a control surface in the aircraft.

10. The wingtip control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the wingtip between a folded position and an unfolded position.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a flight deck interface for an aircraft such that the flight deck interface comprises a visual indication of a desired position for a wingtip of the aircraft, the flight deck interface being configured to be placed into an armed state; and
a controller, in communication with the flight deck interface, configured to:
receive a signal that indicates a desire for a change in a position of an airfoil structure;
receive an indication of an occurrence of an event for the aircraft;
present, on the flight deck interface, based upon reception of the signal and the indication of the occurrence of the event, the visual indication;
generate, based upon the visual indication, a movement command; and
send the movement command to an airfoil structure movement system to move the airfoil structure between a deployed position and an undeployed position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flight deck interface comprises a switch system configured to be placed into the armed state and generate the signal, and wherein the switch system comprises a first switch and a second switch, the first switch configured to generate the signal and the second switch configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to the event.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the event is selected from at least one of a position of the aircraft, a phase of flight of the aircraft, a speed of the aircraft, or a position of a control surface of the aircraft.

14. A method for controlling a wingtip of an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving in a wingtip controller, from a flight deck interface, a signal indicating a desire for a change in a position of the wingtip;
receiving in the wingtip controller an indication of an occurrence of an event for the aircraft;
presenting a visual indication, in the flight deck interface, based upon reception of the signal and the indication of the occurrence of the event, of the desire; and
generating, based upon the visual indication in the flight deck interface, a movement command for moving the wingtip to a position corresponding to the visual indication.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the flight deck interface includes a switch system, the method further comprising:
generating the signal indicating that the change in the position of the wingtip is desired by the switch system.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
visually indicating a state of the switch system.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the switch system comprises a first switch and a second switch, the first switch being configured to generate the signal and the second switch being configured to move between a first position and a second position.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
moving the wingtip in response to the movement command.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein changing the position of the wingtip comprises:
moving the wingtip between a deployed position and an undeployed position using a wingtip movement system.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the event is selected from at least one of a position of the aircraft, a phase of flight of the aircraft, a speed of the aircraft, or a position of a control surface in the aircraft.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Thoreen Adam Marshall
• Baer Joshua Jay
• Sikora Joseph Adam
• Lassen Matthew August
• Foster Michael Edwin
• Gallagher Timothy P

Classifications

• B64D45/00

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C23/072

  the wing tip airfoil devices being moveable in their entirety · CPC title

• B64C9/00

  Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders (trimming stabilising surfaces B64C5/10) · CPC title

• B64C23/065

  at the wing tips · CPC title

• B64C13/04 Primary

  actuated personally · CPC title