Multiplex systems

Claim 2

In a multiplex system having at least three subchannels operable to provide respective outputs that are nominally equivalent to one another, and including means for rendering any one of the subchannels effectively inoperative in the event that there is predetermined disagreement between the value of a predetermined operational parameter of that subchannel and the values of the same operational parameter in the other individual subchannels, the combination comprising: difference means for supplying in respect of each subchannel discrete representations of the differences in the value of said parameter as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel, said difference means including means operative to impose upon each said difference-representation limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby; further means for balancing out operationally acceptable differences in the value of said parameter arising between the subchannels; said further means comprising equalizing means in each subchannel; signal supply means to apply to the equalizing means in each individual subchannel the said difference-representations supplied by said difference means in respect of that particular subchannel; and each said equalizing means being means responsive to the said difference-representations applied thereto to act in its respective subchannel to balance out the differences represented by those representations.

Claim 3

A multiplex system according to claim 1 wherein the said equalizing means in each subchannel includes means for applying the difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel as degenerative feedback therein.

Claim 4

A multiplex system according to claim 1 wherein the said equalizing means in each subchannel includes an integrator for integrating with respect to time the difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel, and means for applying the accumulated integral degeneratively in the respective subchannel.

Claim 5

A multiplex system according to claim 1 wherein the said equalizing means in each subchannel includes controllable means for varying the overall gain of the subchannel, and means for applying the difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel to said controllable means to regulate the gain of the respective subchannel degeneratively.

Claim 6

A multiplex system according to claim 1 wherein each subchannel includes a servo, means for deriving a first signal in accordance with a desired value of a predetermined variable, means for driving a second signal in accordance with a measured value of said variable, and signal-transmission means for transmitting said first and second signals to the servo, said servo being responsive to the signals transmitted thereto by said signal-transmission means to provide an output in accordance with any difference therebetween, and said signal-transmission means including controllable means for varying the proportional relationship between the said first and second signals in their transmission to the said servo, and means for applying the difference-representations provided in respect of the respective subchannel to said controllable means to regulate degeneratively the said proportional relationship.

Claim 7

A multiplex system comprising an output member and a multiplex control-channel for driving the output member, wherein said control-channel is formed by at least three subchannels for providing nominally equivalent output drives to the output member, each said subchannel including a selectively disengageable coupling for applying the output drive of the respective subchannel to said output member, and disengaging means operable to disengage the said coupling in response to predetermined disagreement between the output drive of the respective subchannel and the output drives applied to said output memBer by the other subchannels, and wherein the said control-channel includes equalizing means or acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them, said equalizing means comprising difference means for deriving in respect of each subchannel discrete representations of the differences in output drive as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel, said difference means including means operative to impose upon each said difference-representation limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby, and means in each subchannel for responding to the said difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel to act therein to balance out the differences represented by those representations.

Claim 8

A multiplex system comprising an output member and a multiplex control-channel for driving the output member, wherein said control-channel is formed by at least three subchannels for providing nominally equivalent output drives to the output member, each said subchannel including a selectively disengageable coupling for applying the output drive of the respective subchannel to said output member, and disengaging means operable to disengage the said coupling in response to predetermined disagreement between the output drive of the respective subchannel and the output drives applied to said output memBer by the other subchannels, and wherein the said control-channel includes equalizing means or acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them, said equalizing means comprising difference means for deriving in respect of each subchannel discrete representations of the differences in output drive as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel, said difference means including means operative to impose upon each said difference-representation limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby, and means in each subchannel for responding to the said difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel to act therein to balance out the differences represented by those representations.

Claim 9

A multiplex system according to claim 6 wherein said difference means comprises, in each subchannel, comparator means for deriving signals representative respectively of the differences in output drive as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel, and distinct signal-limiters for imposing upon the derived signals individually a predetermined limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby.

Claim 10

A multiplex system according to claim 6 wherein each subchannel comprises a servo motor to provide the output drive of the respective subchannel, a servoamplifier stage for supplying a signal to energize the servomotor, a plurality of signal-comparators for comparing the energizing signal of that subchannel with respectively the corresponding energizing signals of all the other subchannels to derive signals dependent upon any differences therebetween, and feedback means for applying degenerative feedback in the respective subchannel, said feedback means including means for providing a component of said feedback in accordance with the signals derived by the signal-comparators of the subchannel.

Claim 11

A multiplex system according to claim 8 wherein said feedback means of each subchannel includes an integrator for deriving a signal dependent upon the integral with respect to time of the signals derived by the said signal-comparators of that respective subchannel, and means for supplying the signal derived by the integrator to the servoamplifier stage of the respective subchannel as a component of said degenerative feedback.

Claim 12

A multiplex system according to claim 8 wherein the said feedback means in each subchannel includes means for providing degenerative feedback in accordance with the drive provided by the servomotor of the respective subchannel, and means for varying the degree of this latter feedback in accordance with the signals derived by the said signal-comparators of the subchannel.

Claim 13

A multiplex system according to claim 8 wherein each subchannel includes means for deriving a demand-signal in accordance with a desired value of a predetermined variable means for deriving a measurement-signal in accordance with a measured value of said variable, and signal-transmission means for applying the demand- and measurement-signals to said servoamplifier stage in opposition to one another, said signal-transmission means including controllable means for varying the proportional relationship between the said demand- and measurement-signals before their application to said servoamplifier stage, and means for applying the signals derived by the said signal-comparators of the subchannel to said controllable means to regulate degeneratively the said proportional relationship.

Claim 14

A multiplex system according to claim 6 for use in control of at least one aerodynamic control-surface of an aircraft, the system including at least three command-generating means for generating nominally equivalent commands for rate of control-surface movement, and means for applying the commands derived by the different command-generating means to different ones of said subchannels, each subchannel being responsive to the command applied thereto to provide output drive in accordance with thE commanded rate.

Claim 15

A multiplex system comprising a rotatable output member and a multiplex control-channel for controlling rotation of the output member, wherein said control-channel is formed by at least three subchannels for applying nominally equivalent output torques to the output member and includes equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them, and wherein each subchannel includes an electrical servomotor for providing the output torque of the respective subchannel, an electrical servoamplifier for supplying an electric signal to energize the servomotor a selectively disengageable clutch, a torque-switch for disengaging the clutch in response to application to the torque-switch of a torque-loading in excess of a predetermined threshold level, means for applying the output torque provided by the motor to said output member via said clutch and torque-switch in series, a plurality of signal-comparators for comparing the energizing signal of the subchannel with the corresponding energizing signals respectively of all the other subchannels To derive signals representative of the differences between the compared signals, means or effecting limitation as to the maximum magnitude of difference representable by each derived difference-signal, and means for applying the difference signals degeneratively in the respective subchannel.

Claim 16

A multiplex system comprising a rotatable output member and a multiplex control-channel for controlling rotation of the output member, wherein said control-channel is formed by at least three subchannels for applying nominally equivalent output torques to the output member and includes equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them, and wherein each subchannel includes an electrical servomotor for providing the output torque of the respective subchannel, an electrical servoamplifier for supplying an electric signal to energize the servomotor a selectively disengageable clutch, a torque-switch for disengaging the clutch in response to application to the torque-switch of a torque-loading in excess of a predetermined threshold level, means for applying the output torque provided by the motor to said output member via said clutch and torque-switch in series, a plurality of signal-comparators for comparing the energizing signal of the subchannel with the corresponding energizing signals respectively of all the other subchannels To derive signals representative of the differences between the compared signals, means or effecting limitation as to the maximum magnitude of difference representable by each derived difference-signal, and means for applying the difference signals degeneratively in the respective subchannel.

Claim 17

A multiplex system according to claim 13 for use in control of at least one aerodynamic control-surface of an aircraft, the system including at least three command-generating means for generating nominally equivalent commands for rate of control-surface movement, and means for applying the commands derived by the different command-generating means to different ones of said subchannels, each subchannel being responsive to the command applied thereto to provide output drive in accordance with the commanded rate.

Claim 18

In an aircraft having a movable aerodynamic control-surface for use in maneuvering the aircraft during flight: a multiplex control-channel to provide drive for moving the control-surface, and drive-transmission means intercoupling the multiplex control-channel and the control-surface to move the control-surface in accordance with said drive applied from the multiplex control-channel; said multiplex control-channel comprising at least three sub-channels for applying nominally equivalent output drives to said drive-transmission means; each said subchannel including a selectively disengageable coupling for applying the output drive of the respective subchannel to said drive-transmission means; disengaging means operable to disengage the said coupling in response to predetermined disagreement between the output drive of the respective subchannel and the output drives applied to said drive-transmission means by the other subchannels, and wherein the said control-channel includes equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them; said equalizing means comprising difference means for deriving in respect of each subchannel discrete representations of the differences in output drive as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel; said difference means including means operative to impose upon each said difference-representation limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby; and means in each subchannel for responding to the said difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel to act therein to balance out the differences represented by those representations.

Claim 19

In an aircraft having a movable aerodynamic control-surface for use in maneuvering the aircraft during flight: a multiplex control-channel to provide drive for moving the control-surface, and drive-transmission means intercoupling the multiplex control-channel and the control-surface to move the control-surface in accordance with said drive applied from the multiplex control-channel; said multiplex control-channel comprising at least three sub-channels for applying nominally equivalent output drives to said drive-transmission means; each said subchannel including a selectively disengageable coupling for applying the output drive of the respective subchannel to said drive-transmission means; disengaging means operable to disengage the said coupling in response to predetermined disagreement between the output drive of the respective subchannel and the output drives applied to said drive-transmission means by the other subchannels, and wherein the said control-channel includes equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them; said equalizing means comprising difference means for deriving in respect of each subchannel discrete representations of the differences in output drive as between that subchannel and each other individual subchannel; said difference means including means operative to impose upon each said difference-representation limitation as to the maximum difference representable thereby; and means in each subchannel for responding to the said difference-representations provided in respect of that subchannel to act therein to balance out the differences represented by those representations.

Claim 20

In an aircraft having a movable aerodynamic control-surface for use in maneuvering the aircraft during flight: a multiplex control-channel to provide torque for moving the control-surface; torque-transmission means intercoupling the multiplex control-channel and the control-surface to move the control-surface in accordance with torque aPplied from the multiplex-control channel; said multiplex control-channel comprising at least three sub-channels for applying nominally equivalent output torques to the torque-transmission means and including equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them; wherein each subchannel includes an electrical servomotor for providing the output torque of the respective subchannel; an electrical servoamplifier for supplying an electric signal to energize the servomotor; a selectively disengageable clutch; torque-switch for disengaging the clutch in response to application to the torque-switch of a torque-loading in excess of a predetermined threshold level; means for applying the output torque provided by the motor to said torque-transmission means via said clutch and torque-switch in series; a plurality of signal-comparators for comparing the energizing signal of the subchannel with the corresponding energizing signal respectively of all the other subchannels to derive signals representative of the differences between the compared signals; means for effecting limitation as to the maximum magnitude of difference representable by each derived difference-signal; and means for applying the difference-signals degeneratively in the respective subchannel.

Claim 21

In an aircraft having a movable aerodynamic control-surface for use in maneuvering the aircraft during flight: a multiplex control-channel to provide torque for moving the control-surface; torque-transmission means intercoupling the multiplex control-channel and the control-surface to move the control-surface in accordance with torque aPplied from the multiplex-control channel; said multiplex control-channel comprising at least three sub-channels for applying nominally equivalent output torques to the torque-transmission means and including equalizing means for acting in the subchannels to balance out operationally acceptable differences arising between them; wherein each subchannel includes an electrical servomotor for providing the output torque of the respective subchannel; an electrical servoamplifier for supplying an electric signal to energize the servomotor; a selectively disengageable clutch; torque-switch for disengaging the clutch in response to application to the torque-switch of a torque-loading in excess of a predetermined threshold level; means for applying the output torque provided by the motor to said torque-transmission means via said clutch and torque-switch in series; a plurality of signal-comparators for comparing the energizing signal of the subchannel with the corresponding energizing signal respectively of all the other subchannels to derive signals representative of the differences between the compared signals; means for effecting limitation as to the maximum magnitude of difference representable by each derived difference-signal; and means for applying the difference-signals degeneratively in the respective subchannel.