US3885430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertical speed command instrument
Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument LLC
•
Filing: 1974-03-06
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1994-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A bellows device is mounted in a casing contained within an aircraft such that a pressure differential is established between the inner and outer walls of the bellows in accordance with the vertical speed of the aircraft. This bellows device is coupled to an indicator to provide a drive signal for the indicator in accordance with such vertical speed. Coupled to the drive mechanism for the indicator through a slip-type coupling is a pendulum device which is adapted to measure horizontal acceleration (positive or negative) of the aircraft resulting from changes of thrust. Such acceleration is sensed by the pendulum and a signal in accordance therewith coupled through the slip coupling so as to drive the indicator along with the drive provided by the bellows device. By virtue of the pendulum''s slip coupling, steady offsets are effectively ''''washed out'''' when the aircraft is not experiencing horizontal acceleration, as for example with changes in aircraft pitch attitude. Thus the pendulum provides an anticipatory climb (or descent) rate signal to the indicator in response to horizontal aircraft acceleration resulting from thrust changes, the indicator displaying a command signal for attaining the climb or descent rate indicated thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard M Greene
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A vertical speed command for an aircraft comprising: means for pneumatically sensing the rate of aircraft altitude change as a function of the rate of change of ambient air pressure outside the aircraft and providing a mechanical signal in accordance therewith; an indicator; means for coupling the mechanical signal from said sensing means to drive said indicator; means for providing a mechanical signal in accordance with the horizontal acceleration of the aircraft; and means for coupling said mechanical signal in accordance with horizontal acceleration to said indicator, whereby the indicator indicates the rate of change of aircraft altitude which will be attained for a given horizontal aircraft thrust change at the commencement of a change of altitude maneuver and indicates actual rate of aircraft altitude change when horizontal acceleration has terminated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A vertical speed command for an aircraft comprising: means for pneumatically sensing the rate of aircraft altitude change as a function of the rate of change of ambient air pressure outside the aircraft and providing a mechanical signal in accordance therewith; an indicator; means for coupling the mechanical signal from said sensing means to drive said indicator; means for providing a mechanical signal in accordance with the horizontal acceleration of the aircraft; and means for coupling said mechanical signal in accordance with horizontal acceleration to said indicator, whereby the indicator indicates the rate of change of aircraft altitude which will be attained for a given horizontal aircraft thrust change at the commencement of a change of altitude maneuver and indicates actual rate of aircraft altitude change when horizontal acceleration has terminated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for sensing horizontal aircraft acceleration comprises a pendulum, means for pivotally supporting said pendulum, and slip-coupling means for coupling said pendulum to the drive means for said indicator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said slip-coupling means comprises a fluid coupling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensing means comprises a bellows and said means for coupling said pressure sensing means to said indicator comprises a mechanical drive linkage connected to said bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vertical speed command instrument for an aircraft comprising: means for pneumatically sensing the rate of change of altitude of said aircraft and generating a first mechanical signal in accordance therewith, indicator means responsive to said first mechanical signal, means for sensing horizontal acceleration of said aircraft and generating a second mechanical signal in accordance with said acceleration, and means for coupling said second mechanical signal to said indicator means as an additive signal to said first signal, whereby said indicator means indicates the sum of the sensed aircraft altitude change rate and the rate of change of altitude anticipated in response to the horizontal aCceleration of the aircraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vertical speed command instrument for an aircraft comprising: means for pneumatically sensing the rate of change of altitude of said aircraft and generating a first mechanical signal in accordance therewith, indicator means responsive to said first mechanical signal, means for sensing horizontal acceleration of said aircraft and generating a second mechanical signal in accordance with said acceleration, and means for coupling said second mechanical signal to said indicator means as an additive signal to said first signal, whereby said indicator means indicates the sum of the sensed aircraft altitude change rate and the rate of change of altitude anticipated in response to the horizontal aCceleration of the aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 5 wherein said means for pneumatically sensing altitude change rate comprises a bellows responsive to the rate of change of ambient pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The instrument of claim 5 wherein said means for sensing horizontal aircraft acceleration comprises a pendulum, means for pivotally supporting the pendulum and wherein said means for coupling said mechanical signal in accordance with acceleration to said indicator means comprises a slip coupling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The instrument of claim 7 wherein said slip coupling is a fluid coupling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3274831A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |