Aircraft descent profile calculator

Claim 2

An aircraft descent calculator comprising: a central member defining an outer annular dial face about the periphery thereof; an intermediate member defining an intermediate annular dial face about the periphery thereof, said intermediate member rotatably mounted on said central member in juxtaposition with said central member so that said intermediate dial face lies adjacent the inside of said outer dial face and is rotatable with respect to said outer dial face about a common axis of rotation coinciding with the center of said outer dial face; an inner member defining an inner annular dial face about the periphery thereof, said inner dial member rotatably mounted on said intermediate member in juxtaposition with said intermediate dial face about said common axis of rotation; and, each of said dial faces divided into equal angular spaces so that said angular spaces on each of said dial faces is selectively alignable with the angular spaces on the adjacent dial face, said intermediate dial face having aircraft altitude indicia recorded thereon increasing in said prescribed altitude increments in a first direction around said intermediate dial face, said outer dial face having aircraft DME (distance measuring equipment) distance recorded thereon increasing in prescribed distance increments in one direction around said outer dial face, and said inner dial face having aircraft DME distance recorded thereon increasing in said prescribed distance increments in the direction around said inner dial opposite to said one direction around said outer dial face so that said dial face can be manipulated to deteremine positions on a prescribed aircraft descent profile.

Claim 3

The aircraft descent calculator of claim 1 wherein said aircraft DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) distance recorded on said outer dial face increases in the same direction as said first direction so that said outer dial face represents aircraft DME distance as the aircraft moves toward a VOR/DME (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment) station and said inner dial face represents aircraft DME distance as the aircraft moves away from a VOR/DME station.

Claim 4

The aircraft descent calculator of claim 1 further including connection means for maintaining a relatively fixed rotational relationship between said inner and outer dial faces.

Claim 5

The aircraft descent calculator of claim 1 wherein said central member further defines a second outer annular dial face about the periphery thereof opposite said first mentioned outer dial face and further including: a second intermediate member defining a second intermediate annular dial face about the periphery thereof, said second intermediate member rotatably mounted on said central member is juxtaposition with said central member so that said second intermediate dial face lies adjacent the inside of said second outer dial face and is rotatable with respect to said second outer dial face about said common axis of rotation; a second inner member defining a second inner annular dial face about the periphery thereof, said second inner dial member rotatably mounted on said second intermediate member in juxtaposition with said second intermediate dial face about said common axis of rotation; and, each of said second dial faces divided into equal angular spaces so that said angular spaces on each of said second dial faces is selectively alignable with the angular spaces on the adjacent second dial face, said second intermediate dial face having aircraft altitude indicia recorded thereon increasing in said prescribed altitude increments in a first direction around said second intermediate dial face, said second outer dial face having aircraft DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) distance recorded thereon increasing in second prescribed distance increments in one direction around said second outer dial face, and said second inner dial face having aircraft DME distance recorded thereon increasing in said second prescribed distance increments in the direction around said second inner dial face opposite to said one direction around said second outer dial face so that said second dial face can be manipulated to determine positions on a second prescribed aircraft descent profile.

Claim 6

The aircraft descent calculator of claim 1 wherein the relationship between said prescribed distance increments on inner and outer dial faces and said prescribed altitude increments on said intermediate dial face is such to define an aircraft descent profile of 1,000 feet altitude per 3 nautical miles.