US3620488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft command mixing device
Assignee: BAE Systems Aircraft Controls Inc
•
Filing: 1969-05-29
•
Granted: 1971-11-16
•
Expires: 1989-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for producing aircraft steering command signals for application to the controls of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) or a vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft during the transition from cruise flight to hover. A command signal mixing device is provided for processing aircraft command signals as a function of speed to produce steering command signals adapted to simulate the manner in which a pilot normally flies the aircraft. In a preferred form of the invention, vertical-plane path control is effected by routing vertical command information through the command mixer to provide velocity-dependent steering command signals for application to the collective pitch and pitch cyclic controls of the aircraft. Lateral-plane path control is effected by routing lateral command information through the command mixer to produce velocitydependent bank and turn steering command signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Justin G Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/08; G05D1/0808; G05D1/0858; G05D1/04; G05D1/06; G05D1/0607; G05D1/0653; G05D1/0676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for mixing lateral plane commands to control lateral plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having bank command means for steering it in the lateral plane, the control system comprising means for producing command signals representative of aircraft lateral path error, roll attitude, and heading error; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; means for coupling the lateral path error signal to the bank command means independent of aircraft speed; means for coupling the roll attitude signal to the bank command means independent of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the heading error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the heading error signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the bank command means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for mixing lateral plane commands to control lateral plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having bank command means for steering it in the lateral plane, the control system comprising means for producing command signals representative of aircraft lateral path error, roll attitude, and heading error; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; means for coupling the lateral path error signal to the bank command means independent of aircraft speed; means for coupling the roll attitude signal to the bank command means independent of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the heading error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the heading error signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the bank command means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system according to claim 1, including selector means for adjusting the magnitude of the selected minimum and maximum speeds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system according to claim 1 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with actual aircraft speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system according to claim 1 wherein the output signal from the signal processing means varies linearly as a function of aircraft speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A control system according to claim 1 wherein the aircraft also has turn command means; and wherein the control system further includes means for producing a command signal representative of aircraft turn coordination error; second signal processing means responsive to the heading error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the heading error signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; third signal processing means responsive to the turn coordination error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the turn coordination error signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the second and third signal processing means to the turn command means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control system according to claim 5 including selector means for adjusting the magnitudes of the minimum and maximum speeds for the first of said signal processing means and for the second and third signal processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control system according to claim 5 wherein the aircraft speed signal is produced by a preselected desired speed schedule.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system according to claim 5 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with aircraft deviation from a desired reference speed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for mixing lateral-plane commands to control lateral-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having turn command means for steering it in the lateral plane, the control system comprising means for producing command signals representative of aircraft heading error and turn coordination error; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; first signal processing means responsive to the heading error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the heading error signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; second signal processing means responsive to the turn coordination error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the turn cooRdination error signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signals of the first and second signal processing means to the turn command means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for mixing lateral-plane commands to control lateral-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having turn command means for steering it in the lateral plane, the control system comprising means for producing command signals representative of aircraft heading error and turn coordination error; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; first signal processing means responsive to the heading error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the heading error signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; second signal processing means responsive to the turn coordination error signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the turn cooRdination error signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signals of the first and second signal processing means to the turn command means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system according to claim 9 including selector means for adjusting the magnitudes of the selected minimum and maximum speeds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system according to claim 9 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with actual aircraft speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A control system according to claim 9 wherein the output signals from the first and second signal processing means vary linearly as a function of aircraft speed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for mixing vertical plane commands to control vertical-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having pitch cyclic command means for steering it in the vertical plane, the control system comprising means for producing a vertically referenced aircraft command signal and a horizontally referenced aircraft command signal; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; means for coupling the horizontally referenced command signal to the pitch cyclic command means independent of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the vertically referenced command signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the vertically referenced command signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the pitch cyclic command means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for mixing vertical plane commands to control vertical-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having pitch cyclic command means for steering it in the vertical plane, the control system comprising means for producing a vertically referenced aircraft command signal and a horizontally referenced aircraft command signal; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; means for coupling the horizontally referenced command signal to the pitch cyclic command means independent of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the vertically referenced command signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the vertically referenced command signal decreases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the pitch cyclic command means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system according to claim 13 including selector means for adjusting the magnitude of the selected minimum and maximum speeds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system according to claim 13 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with actual aircraft speed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system according to claim 13 wherein the output signal from the signal processing means varies linearly as a function of aircraft speed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
A control system according to claim 13 wherein the aircraft also has collective command means for steering it in the vertical plane; and wherein the control system further includes second signal processing means responsive to the vertically referenced command signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the vertically referenced command signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the second signal processing means to the collective command means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control system according to claim 17 including selector means for adjusting the magnitudes of the selected minimum and maximum speeds for the first of said signal processing means and for the second signal processing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control system according to claim 17 wherein the aircraft speed signal is produced by a preselected desired speed schedule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system according to claim 17 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with aircraft deviation from a desired reference speed.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for mixing vertical-plane commands to control vertical-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having collective command means for steering it in the vertical plane, the control system comprising means for producing a vertically referenced aircraft command signal; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the vertically referenced command signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the vertically referenced command signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the collective command meaNs.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for mixing vertical-plane commands to control vertical-plane flight of an aircraft capable of ascending and descending in a substantially vertical path, the aircraft having collective command means for steering it in the vertical plane, the control system comprising means for producing a vertically referenced aircraft command signal; means for producing a signal representative of aircraft speed; signal processing means responsive to the vertically referenced command signal and the aircraft speed signal for producing an output signal in which the magnitude of the vertically referenced command signal increases as aircraft speed decreases from a selected maximum speed to a selected minimum speed; and means for coupling the output signal of the signal processing means to the collective command meaNs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system according to claim 21 including selector means for adjusting the magnitude of the selected minimum and maximum speeds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system according to claim 21 wherein the aircraft speed signal varies in accordance with actual aircraft speed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system according to claim 21 wherein the output signal from the signal processing means varies linearly as a function of aircraft speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |