US3711042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft control system
Assignee: NA SA
•
Filing: 1970-07-13
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1990-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft control system, particularly suited to rotary wing aircraft, in which longitudinal acceleration and course rate commands are derived from a manual control stick to control translational velocity of the aircraft along a flight path. In the collective channel the manual controls provide vertical velocity commands. In the yaw channel the manual controls provide sideslip or heading rate commands at high or low airspeeds, respectively. The control system is particularly suited for rotary wing aircraft and permits pilots to fly along prescribed flight paths in a precise manner with relatively low work load.
Inventors
- 👤 P Rempfer
- 👤 J Koziol
- 👤 A Robertson
- 👤 L Stevenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:06
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/08; G05D1/0808; G05D1/0858; B; B64; B64C; B64C27/00; B64C27/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A translational acceleration control system, with velocity holding capability, for a rotor driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a translational acceleration command signal; means for integrating the translational acceleration command signal to produce a commanded ground speed signal; means for providing a longitudinal ground speed signal; means for combining the commanded ground speed signal with the longitudinal ground speed signal to produce a ground speed error signal; compensating means, connected to the output of the combining means for producing said ground speed error signal, for producing a compensated incremental ground speed error signal proportional to the error in ground speed and the integral of the error; means for combining the compensated ground speed error signal produced by said compensating means with the translational acceleration command signal to provide a pitch attitude command signal; means for providing a pitch attitude signal; means for providing a pitching rate signal; and means for combining the pitch attitude command signal with the pitch attitude signal and with the pitching rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the angle of attack of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to thereby control the aircraft pitching moment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A translational acceleration control system, with velocity holding capability, for a rotor driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a translational acceleration command signal; means for integrating the translational acceleration command signal to produce a commanded ground speed signal; means for providing a longitudinal ground speed signal; means for combining the commanded ground speed signal with the longitudinal ground speed signal to produce a ground speed error signal; compensating means, connected to the output of the combining means for producing said ground speed error signal, for producing a compensated incremental ground speed error signal proportional to the error in ground speed and the integral of the error; means for combining the compensated ground speed error signal produced by said compensating means with the translational acceleration command signal to provide a pitch attitude command signal; means for providing a pitch attitude signal; means for providing a pitching rate signal; and means for combining the pitch attitude command signal with the pitch attitude signal and with the pitching rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the angle of attack of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to thereby control the aircraft pitching moment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A course rate control system, with a course hold capability, for a rotor-driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; compensating means connected to the output of said combining means for producing a compensated incremental course command signal proportional to the course error and the integral of course error; means for combining the compensated course error signal produced by said compensating means with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the lateral cyclic pitch of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to control the aircraft rolling moments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A course rate control system, with a course hold capability, for a rotor-driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; compensating means connected to the output of said combining means for producing a compensated incremental course command signal proportional to the course error and the integral of course error; means for combining the compensated course error signal produced by said compensating means with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the lateral cyclic pitch of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to control the aircraft rolling moments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
An aircraft heading rate control system with heading hold turn capability comprising: means for providing a heading rate command signal; means for integrating said heading rate command signal to produce a heading command signal; means for providing a heading reference signal; means for combining the said heading reference signal with the heading command signal to produce a heading error signal; means for providing a yaw rate damping signal; and means for combining said yaw rate damping signal, heading error signal and heading rate command signal to control the aircrafT.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
An aircraft heading rate control system with heading hold turn capability comprising: means for providing a heading rate command signal; means for integrating said heading rate command signal to produce a heading command signal; means for providing a heading reference signal; means for combining the said heading reference signal with the heading command signal to produce a heading error signal; means for providing a yaw rate damping signal; and means for combining said yaw rate damping signal, heading error signal and heading rate command signal to control the aircrafT.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
An aircraft control system as described by claim 3 including: means for providing an airspeed signal; and means for automatically selecting between a heading rate command signal based system for operation at airspeeds less than a preselected speed or a sideslip command signal based system for operation at airspeeds greater than a preselected speed, thus permitting the use of the same means for providing the heading rate command signal as provides the sideslip command signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A course deviation control system for a rotor-driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a course deviation command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course deviation command signal with the course signal to produce a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, roll attitude signal and roll rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the lateral cyclic pitch of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to control aircraft rolling moments, said system further comprising means for sensing the ground speed of the VTOL aircraft and means responsive to said sensing means for converting the system to a course rate control system when the ground speed exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A course deviation control system for a rotor-driven VTOL aircraft comprising: means for providing a course deviation command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course deviation command signal with the course signal to produce a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, roll attitude signal and roll rate signal to produce a control signal for controlling the lateral cyclic pitch of the rotors of the VTOL aircraft to control aircraft rolling moments, said system further comprising means for sensing the ground speed of the VTOL aircraft and means responsive to said sensing means for converting the system to a course rate control system when the ground speed exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
An aircraft collective channel system for controlling rate of descent with altitude hold capability comprising: means for providing a rate of descent command signal; means for integrating the rate of descent command signal to produce an altitude command signal; means for providing an altitude signal; means for combining the altitude command signal with the altitude signal to produce an altitude error signal; means for combining the altitude error signal with the rate of descent command signal to produce a net rate of descent command signal; means for providing a rate of descent signal; and means for combining the net rate of descent command signal with the rate of descent signal to control the aircraft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
An aircraft collective channel system for controlling rate of descent with altitude hold capability comprising: means for providing a rate of descent command signal; means for integrating the rate of descent command signal to produce an altitude command signal; means for providing an altitude signal; means for combining the altitude command signal with the altitude signal to produce an altitude error signal; means for combining the altitude error signal with the rate of descent command signal to produce a net rate of descent command signal; means for providing a rate of descent signal; and means for combining the net rate of descent command signal with the rate of descent signal to control the aircraft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
An aircraft course rate control system with a course hold capability comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; means for combining the course error signal with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to control the aircraft; and means for automatically blocking the course rate command signal input to the integrating means when ground speed is less than a preselected speed, thus causing the means for providing the course rate command signal to behave as a means for providing a course deviation command signal and the control system to behave as a course deviation command system with respect to the course held by the integrating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
An aircraft course rate control system with a course hold capability comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; means for combining the course error signal with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for providing a roll rate signal; and means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to control the aircraft; and means for automatically blocking the course rate command signal input to the integrating means when ground speed is less than a preselected speed, thus causing the means for providing the course rate command signal to behave as a means for providing a course deviation command signal and the control system to behave as a course deviation command system with respect to the course held by the integrating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
177 words
An aircraft course rate control system with a course hold capability comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; means for combining the course error signal with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to control the aircraft, said system further compRising means for providing a sideslip command signal; means for providing a sideslip signal; means for combining the said sideslip command signal and sideslip signal to produce a sideslip error signal; means for providing a yaw rate damping signal; and means for combining said sideslip error signal, roll attitude command signal from the roll axis, and yaw rate damping signal to provide coordinated turn capability for controlling the aircraft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
177 words
An aircraft course rate control system with a course hold capability comprising: means for providing a course rate command signal; means for integrating the course rate command signal to produce a course command signal; means for providing a course signal; means for combining the course command signal with the course signal to produce a course error signal; means for combining the course error signal with the course rate command signal to provide a roll attitude command signal; means for providing a roll attitude signal; means for combining the roll attitude command signal, the roll attitude signal and the roll rate signal to control the aircraft, said system further compRising means for providing a sideslip command signal; means for providing a sideslip signal; means for combining the said sideslip command signal and sideslip signal to produce a sideslip error signal; means for providing a yaw rate damping signal; and means for combining said sideslip error signal, roll attitude command signal from the roll axis, and yaw rate damping signal to provide coordinated turn capability for controlling the aircraft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An aircraft control system as described by claim 8 including: means for filtering the roll attitude command signal for the purpose of smoothing prior to crossfeeding said signal from the course rate command signal based system to the sideslip command signal based system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
An aircraft control system as described by claim 8 including: means for providing an airspeed signal; and means for automatically selecting between a heading rate command signal based system for operation at airspeeds less that a preselected speed or a sideslip command signal based system for operation at airspeeds greater than a preselected speeds, thus permitting the use of the same means for providing the heading rate command signal as provides the sideslip command signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |