US3676818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control stick transducer
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-10
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1991-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A transducer for monitoring forces applied to an aircraft control stick includes a spring flexure which acts as a primary restraint to loads applied to the control stick. The spring flexure is secured to the transducer housing and disposed in a horizontal plane. The control stick handgrip is supported above the spring flexure by means of a vertical member passing through a central hub of the spring flexure so that the flexure provides a resilient mounting responsive to forces applied to the handgrip in any horizontal direction. A counterbalance suspended from the same hub of the flexure cancels the effect of any acceleration forces parallel to the spring flexure that may be induced in the mass of the handgrip and its mounting. Cantilevered load beams are arranged to deflect in response to loads applied to the handgrip in excess of an adjustable threshold value. Strain gauges are used to measure the deflection of the load beams and thus provide electrical output signals indicative of the amount of command force applied to the handgrip. Stop members limit the deflection of the spring flexure to values suitable for use with the strain gauges.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth L Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:44
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C13/00; B64C13/02; G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/16; G01L5/161; G01L5/1627; G01L5/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A transducer for an aircraft control stick comprising a spring flexure means disposed in a plane normal to the axis of said control stick, a handgrip on said control stick, a mounting hub on said spring flexure, said mounting hub beIng constrained to nutational movement about a pivot point by said spring flexure, means to mount said handgrip rigidly on said hub, a counterbalance suspended from said hub so as to have a moment of inertia equal to that of said handgrip, and means to provide an electrical signal indicative of the amount of deflection of said spring flexure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A transducer for an aircraft control stick comprising a spring flexure means disposed in a plane normal to the axis of said control stick, a handgrip on said control stick, a mounting hub on said spring flexure, said mounting hub beIng constrained to nutational movement about a pivot point by said spring flexure, means to mount said handgrip rigidly on said hub, a counterbalance suspended from said hub so as to have a moment of inertia equal to that of said handgrip, and means to provide an electrical signal indicative of the amount of deflection of said spring flexure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means to mount the handgrip on said hub includes a shaft member secured in fixed relationship to said hub, said shaft member extending beyond said hub on the side of said spring flexure member opposite said handgrip, said counterbalance being mounted on the extension of said shaft member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said transducer is enclosed in a housing and wherein said flexure member includes mounting flanges for rigidly attaching said flexure member within said housing, said means to mount said handgrip being movable with respect to said housing, and stop means secured to the walls of said housing for limiting the nutational movement of said flexure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means to provide an electrical signal includes cantilevered load beam means secured to said shaft member, means to deflect said load beam means in response to nutational movements of said shaft and strain gauge means responsive to the deflection of said cantilevered beam means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said cantilevered beam means includes a plurality of cantilevered beams, said apparatus further including slotted yoke means for actuating each cantilevered beam, said yoke means being secured to said mounting flanges and arranged to straddle the free ends of said cantilevered beams, said yoke means being proportioned to provide a specified clearance between the yoke and the cantilevered beam when said flexure member is in its quiescent position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of cantilevered beams includes a first group of beams arranged to detect motion in response to pitch forces applied to said handgrip and a second group of beams arranged to detect motion in response to roll forces applied to said handgrip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
189 words
A control stick force transducer comprising a transducer housing, means to mount a handgrip on said transducer, means to mount said transducer on an aircraft control column, a spring flexure mounted in said housing, a central mounting hub on said flexure resiliently supported by a pair of radially disposed spring arms each having a rectangular cross-section and lying in a plane normal to the axis of said control column, a shaft secured to said mounting hub and supporting said handgrip above said flexure, said handgrip being free to move throughout a limited range in response to roll and pitch forces applied to said handgrip whereby said mounting hub is caused to deflect in a spherical fashion about a virtual pivot point, a counterbalance, said shaft extending below said mounting hub and supporting said counterbalance at a distance below said pivot point that provides a moment of inertia equal to that of said handgrip with respect to axes lying in said normal plane, stop means to limit the deflection of said spring flexure, and electrical sensing means to provide signals indicative of the amount of deflection of said spring flexure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
A control stick force transducer comprising a transducer housing, means to mount a handgrip on said transducer, means to mount said transducer on an aircraft control column, a spring flexure mounted in said housing, a central mounting hub on said flexure resiliently supported by a pair of radially disposed spring arms each having a rectangular cross-section and lying in a plane normal to the axis of said control column, a shaft secured to said mounting hub and supporting said handgrip above said flexure, said handgrip being free to move throughout a limited range in response to roll and pitch forces applied to said handgrip whereby said mounting hub is caused to deflect in a spherical fashion about a virtual pivot point, a counterbalance, said shaft extending below said mounting hub and supporting said counterbalance at a distance below said pivot point that provides a moment of inertia equal to that of said handgrip with respect to axes lying in said normal plane, stop means to limit the deflection of said spring flexure, and electrical sensing means to provide signals indicative of the amount of deflection of said spring flexure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sensing means includes cantilevered beams arranged to be deflected in response to motions of said shaft in excess of a predetermined threshold, said cantilevered beams having a compliance much greater than the compliance of said spring flexure, and wherein said electrical sensing means includes strain gauge means arranged to respond to deflections of said cantilevered beams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3434342A
Cited
US3447766A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |