US3835299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Navigational computers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-21
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A navigational computer for solving wind vector problems including a plurality of rotatable discs having cooperatively arranged wind grid, aircraft grid, and 360* compass rose, for setting and reading air speeds, wind speeds and ground speeds, and for calculating drift angles and the crab angles necessary to compensate for drift. A runway orienter is incorporated in the wind grid and cooperates with the compass rose to indicate the direction of the various legs in airport traffic patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 P Turney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/20; G06; G06G; G06G1/00; G06G1/0005; G06G1/0052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A computer for the solution of navigational problems of an aircraft traveling in a moving body of air, comprising a plurality of cooperating discs mounted on a common central axis and rotatable with respect to each other; one of said discs having a compass rose circumferentially formed on it; another of said discs, the wind grid, having a wind direction index thereon and a series of designs of a given scale by reference to which a wind vector may be constructed from any point thereon of any desired velocity; and the third of said discs, the aircraft grid, being constructed to the same scale as said wind grid and bearing an aircraft direction index at the end of a diametrical centerline, and arcs and radials centered on the origin indicating, respectively, aircraft velocities and angular distances from said centerline; said origin being on or off said disc; said wind direction index and aircraft direction index being positioned to cooperate with said compass rose and properly orient said wind and aircraft grids as to North and as to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer for the solution of navigational problems of an aircraft traveling in a moving body of air, comprising a plurality of cooperating discs mounted on a common central axis and rotatable with respect to each other; one of said discs having a compass rose circumferentially formed on it; another of said discs, the wind grid, having a wind direction index thereon and a series of designs of a given scale by reference to which a wind vector may be constructed from any point thereon of any desired velocity; and the third of said discs, the aircraft grid, being constructed to the same scale as said wind grid and bearing an aircraft direction index at the end of a diametrical centerline, and arcs and radials centered on the origin indicating, respectively, aircraft velocities and angular distances from said centerline; said origin being on or off said disc; said wind direction index and aircraft direction index being positioned to cooperate with said compass rose and properly orient said wind and aircraft grids as to North and as to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer of claim 1, upon the aircraft grid of which is inscribed a series of lines parallel to said centerline, by reference to which the downwind end of the wind vector may be projected any distance in either direction parallel to said centerline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer of claim 1, upon the circumference of the wind grid of which are inscribed indices indicating the various directions to be flown in airport traffic patterns when said wind direction index has been aligned to the runway direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer of claim 1, upon the wind grid of which has been inscribed a magnetic variation scale centered on said wind direction index, by reference to which true wind directions can be set upon the computer as magnetic directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer of claim 1, the markings upon the wind and aircraft grids of which are of contrasting colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer of claim 1, the velocities on the aircraft grid whereof may be set or determined according to either of two separate scales, one double the other and the lower end of the higher scale comfortably overlapping the higher end of the lower scale.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer of claim 1, constructed to a scale to solve the navigational problems of any vehicle traveling in a moving medium, as, for example, a ship in a current, the wind and aircraft grids thereof being referred to, respectively, as the current grid and the vehicle grid.
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) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |