VOR instruction device

Claim 2

A VOR instructional device comprising: 1. a housing; 2. a VOR receiver display associated with said housing and including a to/from display, a right/left display and a course selection display; 3. an aircraft position display associated with said housing and adapted to simulate an aircraft''s position along a VOR transmitter radial; and, 4. a mechanical linkage means mounted in said housing for coupling said VOR receiver display and said aircraft position display together in a manner such that: a. a change in the simulated aircraft position on said aircraft position display causes a change in said right/left display and may cause a change in said to/from display; and, b. said course selection display can be changed to bring said right/left display to a predetermined display position and provide an indication of the VOR radial on which said simulated aircraft position lies.

Claim 3

a VOR receiver display associated with said housing and including a to/from display, a right/left display and a course selection display;

Claim 4

a VOR receiver display associated with said housing and including a to/from display, a right/left display and a course selection display;

Claim 5

said plurality of gears comprises: a. an aircraft position gear mounted on said aircraft position shaft so as to rotate with said aircraft position shaft, said aircraft position shaft also being affixed to said aircraft position simulator arm; b. a course selection gear rotatably mounted on said course selection shaft; c. an idler gear also rotatably mounted on said course selection shaft, said course selection shaft being mounted in a position such that said idler gear meshes with said aircraft position gear; d. an OBS gear mounted on said OBS shaft so as to rotate with said OBS shaft, said OBS lock shaft being mounted in a position such that said OBS gear is movable between one position wherein it meshes with said course selection gear and a second position wherein it meshes with said idler gear, as said OBS shaft is moved longitudinally with respect to said OBS lock shaft; e. a coupling gear mounted on said coupling shaft so as to rotate with said coupler shaft, said coupling shaft being located such that said coupling gear meshes with said OBS gear when said OBS gear is in said second position; and, f. a to/from, right/left gear mounted on said coupler shaft so as to rotate with said coupler shaft and mesh with said OBS gear when said OBS gear is in said one position.

Claim 6

said plurality of gears comprises: a. an aircraft position gear mounted on said aircraft position shaft so as to rotate with said aircraft position shaft, said aircraft position shaft also being affixed to said aircraft position simulator arm; b. a course selection gear rotatably mounted on said course selection shaft; c. an idler gear also rotatably mounted on said course selection shaft, said course selection shaft being mounted in a position such that said idler gear meshes with said aircraft position gear; d. an OBS gear mounted on said OBS shaft so as to rotate with said OBS shaft, said OBS lock shaft being mounted in a position such that said OBS gear is movable between one position wherein it meshes with said course selection gear and a second position wherein it meshes with said idler gear, as said OBS shaft is moved longitudinally with respect to said OBS lock shaft; e. a coupling gear mounted on said coupling shaft so as to rotate with said coupler shaft, said coupling shaft being located such that said coupling gear meshes with said OBS gear when said OBS gear is in said second position; and, f. a to/from, right/left gear mounted on said coupler shaft so as to rotate with said coupler shaft and mesh with said OBS gear when said OBS gear is in said one position.

Claim 7

coupling means including: a. a plurality of shafts supported by said top and bottom plates between said top and bottom plates; and, b. a plurality of gears mounted on said plurality of shafts so as to mesh in a predetermined manner;

Claim 8

coupling means including: a. a plurality of shafts supported by said top and bottom plates between said top and bottom plates; and, b. a plurality of gears mounted on said plurality of shafts so as to mesh in a predetermined manner;

Claim 9

said right/left display comprises a needle mounted on said housing for oscillation, said needle including a follower element coupled to said to/from, right/left gear so as to follow the movement of said to/from, right/left gear;

Claim 10

said right/left display comprises a needle mounted on said housing for oscillation, said needle including a follower element coupled to said to/from, right/left gear so as to follow the movement of said to/from, right/left gear;

Claim 11

said coupling gear and said to/from, right/left gear are mounted on a common shaft and are adapted to rotate together.

Claim 12

said coupling gear and said to/from, right/left gear are mounted on a common shaft and are adapted to rotate together.

Claim 13

said second mechanical linkage comprises: a. a course selection gear mounted so as to mesh with said spur gear; and b. a to/from, right/left gear mounted so as to mesh with said spur gear.

Claim 14

said second mechanical linkage comprises: a. a course selection gear mounted so as to mesh with said spur gear; and b. a to/from, right/left gear mounted so as to mesh with said spur gear.

Claim 15

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanical linkage means comprises: a first mechanical linkage; a second mechanical linkage; and a common mechanical linkage movable between said first and second mechanical linkages.

Claim 16

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said common mechanical linkage comprises a spur gear and a shaft, said spur gear being affixed to said shaft, said shaft being movable along its longitudinal axis so as to move said gear between positions of interaction with said first mechanical linkage and interaction with said second mechanical linkage.

Claim 17

said to/from display comprises a graphical display formed on the upper surface of said to/froM, right/left gear and a pair of apertures formed in said housing through which said graphical display can be observed; and,

Claim 18

said to/from display comprises a graphical display formed on the upper surface of said to/froM, right/left gear and a pair of apertures formed in said housing through which said graphical display can be observed; and,

Claim 19

an aircraft position display associated with said housing and adapted to simulate an aircraft''s position along a VOR transmitter radial; and,

Claim 20

an aircraft position display associated with said housing and adapted to simulate an aircraft''s position along a VOR transmitter radial; and,

Claim 21

an aircraft position simulator arm mounted on one of said plurality of shafts so as to rotate as said shaft rotates;

Claim 22

an aircraft position simulator arm mounted on one of said plurality of shafts so as to rotate as said shaft rotates;

Claim 23

a needle operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated right/left display;

Claim 24

a needle operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated right/left display;

Claim 25

said course selector display comprises a heading display located about the periphery of said course selection gear and an aperture formed in said housing through which a portion of said heading display can be viewed.

Claim 26

said course selector display comprises a heading display located about the periphery of said course selection gear and an aperture formed in said housing through which a portion of said heading display can be viewed.

Claim 27

a mechanical linkage means mounted in said housing for coupling said VOR receiver display and said aircraft position display together in a manner such that: a. a change in the simulated aircraft position on said aircraft position display causes a change in said right/left display and may cause a change in said to/from display; and, b. said course selection display can be changed to bring said right/left display to a predetermined display position and provide an indication of the VOR radial on which said simulated aircraft position lies.

Claim 28

a mechanical linkage means mounted in said housing for coupling said VOR receiver display and said aircraft position display together in a manner such that: a. a change in the simulated aircraft position on said aircraft position display causes a change in said right/left display and may cause a change in said to/from display; and, b. said course selection display can be changed to bring said right/left display to a predetermined display position and provide an indication of the VOR radial on which said simulated aircraft position lies.

Claim 29

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

Claim 30

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

Claim 31

an OBS indicator operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated OBS display; and,

Claim 32

an OBS indicator operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated OBS display; and,

Claim 33

a to/from indicator operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated to/from display.

Claim 34

a to/from indicator operatively associated with one of said gears and said simulated VOR receiver display to provide, in conjunction with said simulated VOR receiver display, a simulated to/from display.

Claim 35

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spur gear, said aircraft position gear, said idler gear, said coupling gear, said course selection gear, and said to/from, right/left gear are mounted on the shafts in said housing.

Claim 36

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

Claim 37

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said aircraft position display comprises: an aircraft position simulation arm affixed to an aircraft position shaft, said aircraft position gear being keyed to said aircraft position shaft whereby when said aircraft position simulation arm is moved, said aircraft position gear also moves.

Claim 38

A VOR instructional device as claimed in claim 8 including an OBS shaft and an OBS lock shaft, said spur gear being mounted on said OBS shaft and said OBS shaft being mounted on said OBS lock shaft, said lock shaft including at least two indentations and said OBS shaft including a corresponding slot; and, further comprising a detent pin mounted in said slot, said detent pin adapted to move into said indentation in said OBS lock shaft when the slot in said OBS shaft is selectively aligned with said indentations.

Claim 39

Apparatus for concurrently creating a simulated aircraft position display and a simulated VOR receiver display related to said simulated aircraft position display, said apparatus comprising:

Claim 40

Apparatus for concurrently creating a simulated aircraft position display and a simulated VOR receiver display related to said simulated aircraft position display, said apparatus comprising:

Claim 41

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said OBS indicator comprises a plurality of degree indications associated with one surface of said one of said gears associated with said OBS indicator and, wherein said simulated receiver display includes an OBS aperture located such that a predetermined portion of said degree indications are viewable therethrough.

Claim 42

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said to/from indicator comprises graphics carried by one surface of said one of said gears associated with said to/from indicator, and, wherein said simulated VOR receiver display includes TO and FROM apertures located such that a predetermined portion of said graphics are viewable therethrough.

Claim 43

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said graphics comprise inner and outer rings located on said one surface of said one of said gears associated with said to/from indicator, said inner and outer rings being separated into sections, said sections being visibly different, one of said sections being viewable through said TO aperture and the other being viewable through said FROM aperture.

Claim 44

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said sections are different colors.

Claim 45

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said needle includes a cam follower and whereiN one surface of said one of said gears associated with said needle includes a surface cam, said needle and gear being mounted so that said cam follower can follow said surface cam as said gear is rotated, said following causing said needle to oscillate between two extreme positions.

Claim 46

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein:

Claim 47

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said cam and said to/from indicator graphics are both formed in the same surface of said to/from, right/left gear and wherein said OBS indicator degree indications are formed about the outer periphery of one surface of said course selection gear.

Claim 48

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said to/from indicator comprises graphics associated with one surface of said one of said gears associated with said to/from indicator, and, wherein said simulated VOR receiver display includes TO and FROM apertures located such that a predetermined portion of said graphics are viewable therethrough.

Claim 49

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said graphics comprise inner and outer rings located on said one surface of said one of said gears associated with said to/from indicator, said inner and outer rings being separated into sections, said sections being identified by different formats, one of said sections being viewable through said TO aperture and the other being viewable through said FROM aperture.