Multi-power control system with single control stick

Claim 2

A multi-power control system comprising a plurality of different controllers, including a first controller and a second controller, each of which controls a supply of energy and each of which has displaceable means for changing the energy supply in proportion to the degree of displacement of said means, a single control stick, a connecting element at one end movable longitudinally with the stick, a bearing element through which the control stick extends and in which said control stick has selective longitudinal and angular movements, the bearing element being angularly movable about an axis transverse of the axis of the stick to provide the rocking movement of the stick, one of the controllers being carried by one of the movable elements, a fixed element spaced from the bearing element, one of the controllers being carried by one of these spaced elements, a first link connecting one of the movable elements and the first controller, said first link extending in the same general direction as the longitudinal movement of the control stick, whereby said first link operates the first controller in response to longitudinal movement of the stick in said bearing element and is unresponsive to said angular movement of the stick, a second link connecting one of said spaced elements and the second controller, said second link extending transverse of the longitudinal movement of the stick and in the same general direction in which the stick moves when it rocks with said bearing element whereby said second link operates the second controller in response to said angular movement of the stick and not to the longitudinal movement.

Claim 3

The multi-power control system described in claim 1 characterized by the bearing element having a surface on which the stick has sliding the control system for said other controller and link, one of which is connected to said connecting element and the other of which is connected to structure that is longitudinally fixed with respect to the bearing element, the link extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stick and holding said connecting element against rotation with the stick, but said link projecting at such an angle to a displaceable portion of said other controller so as to operate such other controller in response to the axial movement of the stick.

Claim 4

The multi-power control system described in claim 1 characterized by one of the controllers having a neutral position and being movable selectively to either side of its neutral position, and said controller having the neutral position being effective to reverse its control effect when moved to different sides of its neutral position.

Claim 5

The multi-power control system described in claim 1 characterized by each of the controllers being a potentiometer in an electric circuit of a motor which it controls.

Claim 6

The multi-power control system described in claim 4 characterized by momentary contact switch means having a manually operated actuator at an end of the stick which is gripped by an operator of the stick.

Claim 7

The multi-power control system described in claim 1 characterized by a housing for said bearing, and a boot connected at one end of the stick above the bearing and to the housing on the lower end of the boot, said boot having circumferentially extending folds therein and being flexible so that it can change in length to accommodate longitudinal sliding movement of the stick.

Claim 8

The multi-power control system described in claim 1 characterized by the stick having rotary movement about its longitudinal axis, a third controller carried by said connecting element and operated in response to said rotary movement of the stick, the connecting element being movable with the stick during the longitudinal and tilting movements of thE stick so that there is no relative movement of the third controller and the stick during said longitudinal and tilting movements of the stick.

Claim 9

A multi-power control system comprising a plurality of different controllers, each of which controls a supply of energy and each of which has displaceable means for changing the energy supply in proportion to the degree of displacement of said means, a single control stick, a bearing through which the control stick extends and in which said control stick has selective longitudinal and angular movements, connections between the displaceable means of each controller and the single control stick, the connection to one controller being responsive to longitudinal movement of the stick in said bearing and not responsive to said angular movement of the stick, and the connection of another controller being responsive to said angular movement of the stick and not to the longitudinal movement, and characterized by there being three controllers, each of which has its displaceable means angularly movable about an axis, the connections including one connection through which angular movement of the stick about its longitudinal axis operates a first controller through an angle proportional to the angular movement of the stick about its longitudinal axis, a second bearing on which the first bearing is angularly movable about an axis extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the stick and about which the stick rocks, a connection through which the rocking of the stick operates a second controller through an angle proportional to the angle of rocking of the stick, the connections including also another connection through which the sliding movement of the stick operates a third controller through angular movement proportional to the degree of sliding movement of the stick, all of said connections between the stick and the controllers being connected to the stick and controllers at the same time, but the connection to each of the controllers being oriented and connected so as to be inoperative to displace its controller in response to the movement of the stick that operates one of the other controllers, and further characterized by the connection operated by rotary angular movement of the stick being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the stick, the connection operated by rocking movement of the stick including a link extending transverse of the longitudinal axis of the stick and a crank at an angle to the link, and the connection operated by sliding movement of the stick including a second crank having operating means which are movable as a unit with the stick, and a link connected at one end of the second crank and at the other end to an anchor fixed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stick.

Claim 10

A multi-power control system comprising a plurality of different controllers, each of which controls a supply of energy and each of which has displaceable means for changing the energy supply in proportion to the degree of displacement of said means, a single control stick, a bearing through which the control stick extends and in which said control stick has selective longitudinal and angular movements, connections between the displaceable means of each controller and the single control stick, the connection to one controller being responsive to longitudinal movement of the stick in said bearing and not responsive to said angular movement of the stick, and the connection of another controller being responsive to said angular movement of the stick and not to the longitudinal movement, and characterized by there being three controllers, each of which has its displaceable means angularly movable about an axis, the connections including one connection through which angular movement of the stick about its longitudinal axis operates a first controller through an angle proportional to the angular movement of the stick about its longitudinal axis, a second bearing on which the first bearing is angularly movable about an axis extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the stick and about which the stick rocks, a connection through which the rocking of the stick operates a second controller through an angle proportional to the angle of rocking of the stick, the connections including also another connection through which the sliding movement of the stick operates a third controller through angular movement proportional to the degree of sliding movement of the stick, all of said connections between the stick and the controllers being connected to the stick and controllers at the same time, but the connection to each of the controllers being oriented and connected so as to be inoperative to displace its controller in response to the movement of the stick that operates one of the other controllers, and further characterized by the connection operated by rotary angular movement of the stick being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the stick, the connection operated by rocking movement of the stick including a link extending transverse of the longitudinal axis of the stick and a crank at an angle to the link, and the connection operated by sliding movement of the stick including a second crank having operating means which are movable as a unit with the stick, and a link connected at one end of the second crank and at the other end to an anchor fixed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stick.

Claim 11

A multi-power control system comprising a plurality of different controllers, including two controllers, each of which controls a supply of energy and each of which has displaceable means for changing the energy supply in proportion to the degree of displacement of said means, a single control stick, a connecting element at one end movable longitudinally with the stick, a bearing element through which the control stick extends and in which said control stick has selective longitudinal and angular movements, means holding the bearing element against movement lengthwise of the stick and against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the stick, one of the controllers being carried by said connecting element and connected with the stick for operation by rotation of the stick about its longitudinal axis, a link for operating the other controller, space within the control system for said other controller and link, one of which is connected to said connecting element and the other of which is connected to structure that is longitudinally fixed with respect to the bearing element, the link extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stick and holding said connecting element against rotation with the stick, but said link projecting at sUch an angle to a displaceable portion of said other controller so as to operate such other controller in response to the axial movement of the stick.

Claim 12

A multi-power control system comprising a plurality of different controllers, including two controllers, each of which controls a supply of energy and each of which has displaceable means for changing the energy supply in proportion to the degree of displacement of said means, a single control stick, a connecting element at one end movable longitudinally with the stick, a bearing element through which the control stick extends and in which said control stick has selective longitudinal and angular movements, means holding the bearing element against movement lengthwise of the stick and against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the stick, one of the controllers being carried by said connecting element and connected with the stick for operation by rotation of the stick about its longitudinal axis, a link for operating the other controller, space within the control system for said other controller and link, one of which is connected to said connecting element and the other of which is connected to structure that is longitudinally fixed with respect to the bearing element, the link extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stick and holding said connecting element against rotation with the stick, but said link projecting at sUch an angle to a displaceable portion of said other controller so as to operate such other controller in response to the axial movement of the stick.

Claim 13

The multi-power control system described in claim 9 characterized by the stick being rotatable in the bearing element about the longitudinal axis of the stick, and a bearing surface about which the bearing element has rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of said longitudinal axis.

Claim 14

The multi-power control system described in claim 9 characterized by a third controller and connections by which the third controller is operated in response to rocking movement of the stick about an axis extending transversely of the direction of the sliding movement of the stick.

Claim 15

The multi-power control system described in claim 11 characterized by spring means that converge in three dimensions and from opposite directions and connected with the stick and with fixed anchors for returning the stick to its original position after any displacement or combination of displacements of the stick from said neutral position.

Claim 16

The multi-power control system described in claim 12 characterized by there being eight springs connected with portions of the stick at one end, a housing enclosing the springs, each of the springs being connected at its other end with the housing and the connection with the housing comprising the fixed anchor for each spring.

Claim 17

The multi-power control system described in claim 9 characterized by all of the controllers having neutral positions and being movable selectively to either side of their neutral positions, and all of the controllers being effective to reverse their control effects when moved to different sides of their neutral positions.