Control and synchronization of twin engines with a master throttle lever

Claim 2

In an aircraft having two engines, a pilot's throttle lever assembly for speed control and continuous synchronization of said engines throughout their operational range, said lever assembly comprising: a. an elongated master throttle lever pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft, said master lever having a fixed pin extending laterally therefrom in a parallel direction with said transverse shaft; b. a first slave throttle lever pivotally mounted on said transverse shaft, linkage connecting means on said first slave lever for connection to a first engine throttle operation linkage, said first slave lever having means defining a locking detent adapted to releasably engage said fixed pin of said master lever to assure unison of movement between said master lever and said first slave lever when said fixed pin is releasably held in engagement with said locking detent by an elastic means; and c. a second slave throttle lever pivotally mounted on said transverse shaft, other linkage connecting means on said second slave lever for connection to a second engine throttle operating linkage, said second slave lever having means defining an elongated detent adapted to releasably engage said fixed pin of said master lever to provide for limited movement of said master lever relative to said second slave lever when said fixed pin is releasably held in engagement with said elongated detent by an elastic means and thereby providing means readily allowing for continuous synchronization of said engines by movement of said master throttle lever.

Claim 3

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever is disposed to the left side of said master throttle lever; and b. said second slave throttle lever is disposed to the right side of said master lever.

Claim 4

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever and said second slave throttle lever are disposed to the left side of said master throttle lever; and b. said first slave lever is disposed between said master lever and said second slave lever.

Claim 5

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever and said second slave throttle lever are disposed to the right side of said master throttle lever; and b. said first slave lever is disposed between said master lever and said second slave lever.

Claim 6

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever is disposed to the right side of said master throttle lever; and b. said second slave lever is disposed to the left side of said master lever.

Claim 7

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever and said second slave throttle lever are disposed to the left side of said master throttle lever; and b. said second slave lever is disposed between said master lever and said first slave lever.

Claim 8

A throttle lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 1 in which: a. said first slave throttle lever and said second slave throttle lever are disposed to the right side of said master throttle lever; and b. said second slave lever is disposed between said master lever and said first slave lever.

Claim 9

In an aircraft having two engines, a throttle lever assembly for selectively operating one or both engines and synchronizing the engines by manual use of a single master throttle lever which selectively engages two slave throttle levers, said lever assembly comprising: a. a pivotally mounted master throttle lever having a carriage pin extending therefrom; b. a pivotally mounted first engine slave throttle lever having means defining a locking detent and spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever into said locking detent, said spring means exerting an upward force on said locking detent when said locking detent is in engagement with said carriage pin; and c. a pivotally mounted second engine slave throttle lever having means defining an elongated detent adapted to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever for limited free pivotal movement of said second lever relative to said master lever, said second slave lever being provided with spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin into said elongated detent, said spring means exerting a upward force on said elongated detent when said elongated detent is in engagement with said carriage pin.

Claim 10

In an aircraft having two engines, a throttle lever assembly for selectively operating one or both engines and synchronizing the engines by manual use of a single master throttle lever which selectively engages two slave throttle levers, said lever assembly comprising: a. a pivotally mounted master throttle lever having a carriage pin extending therefrom; b. a pivotally mounted first engine slave throttle lever having means defining a locking detent and spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever into said locking detent, said spring means exerting an upward force on said locking detent when said locking detent is in engagement with said carriage pin; and c. a pivotally mounted second engine slave throttle lever having means defining an elongated detent adapted to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever for limited free pivotal movement of said second lever relative to said master lever, said second slave lever being provided with spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin into said elongated detent, said spring means exerting a upward force on said elongated detent when said elongated detent is in engagement with said carriage pin.

Claim 11

In a vehicle having at least two engines; a pilot's throttle lever assembly for accomplishing easy speed synchronization of said two engines, comprising: a. a master throttle lever; b. a first and a second slave throttle lever; c. shaft means connected in said aircraft for rotatably mounting said levers in adjacent positions thereon; d. a handle member on each of said levers; e. means for connecting a first engine throttle operating linkage means to said first slave lever and separate means for connecting a second engine throttle operating linkage means to said second slave lever; f. a pin-like member fixed to said master lever and extending to each of said slave levers; g. a pawl type member movably mounted on each of said slave levers and having a ramp surface and a detent adjacent said ramp; h. elastic means on each of said slave levers for urging said pawls, respectively, to a position where said pin member on said master lever is engagable in said detent; i. said ramp surfaces being respectively located in the path of said pin member so that said pin member can ride over said ramp displacing said pawl member against the urging of said elastic means for automatic engagement of said pin member in said detent; j. said handles on each of said slave levers being drivingly connected to said elastic means for manually disengaging said detents, respectively, from said pin member, whereby either slave lever can be operated independently of the other slave lever; k. the detent of said pawl member on said first slave lever being sized to lock said master lever to said first slave lever for integral movement when engaged; and l. the detent of said pawl member on said second slave lever being elongated to allow a predetermined amount of relative motion between said master lever and said second slave lever when engaged.

Claim 12

In a vehicle having at least two engines; a pilot's throttle lever assembly for accomplishing easy speed synchronization of said two engines, comprising: a. a master throttle lever; b. a first and a second slave throttle lever; c. shaft means connected in said aircraft for rotatably mounting said levers in adjacent positions thereon; d. a handle member on each of said levers; e. means for connecting a first engine throttle operating linkage means to said first slave lever and separate means for connecting a second engine throttle operating linkage means to said second slave lever; f. a pin-like member fixed to said master lever and extending to each of said slave levers; g. a pawl type member movably mounted on each of said slave levers and having a ramp surface and a detent adjacent said ramp; h. elastic means on each of said slave levers for urging said pawls, respectively, to a position where said pin member on said master lever is engagable in said detent; i. said ramp surfaces being respectively located in the path of said pin member so that said pin member can ride over said ramp displacing said pawl member against the urging of said elastic means for automatic engagement of said pin member in said detent; j. said handles on each of said slave levers being drivingly connected to said elastic means for manually disengaging said detents, respectively, from said pin member, whereby either slave lever can be operated independently of the other slave lever; k. the detent of said pawl member on said first slave lever being sized to lock said master lever to said first slave lever for integral movement when engaged; and l. the detent of said pawl member on said second slave lever being elongated to allow a predetermined amount of relative motion between said master lever and said second slave lever when engaged.

Claim 13

In an aircraft having two engines, a throttle lever assembly for selectively operating one or both engines and synchronizing the engines by manual use of a single master throttle lever which selectively engages two slave throttle levers, said lever assembly comprising: a. a pivotally mounted master throttle lever having a carriage pin extending therefrom; b. a pivotally mounted first engine slave throttle lever having means defining a locking detent, said locking detent includes a ramp which provides means for automatically engaging said first slave throttle to said master lever when said carriage pin rides over said ramp and spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever into said locking detent; and c. a pivotally mounted second engine slave throttle lever having means defining an elongated detent, said elongated detent include a ramp which provides means for automatically engaging said second throttle lever to said master lever when said carriage pin rides over said ramp and adapted to provide for limited free pivotal movement of said second slave lever relative to said master lever, said second slave lever being provided with spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin into said elongated detent.

Claim 14

In an aircraft having two engines, a throttle lever assembly for selectively operating one or both engines and synchronizing the engines by manual use of a single master throttle lever which selectively engages two slave throttle levers, said lever assembly comprising: a. a pivotally mounted master throttle lever having a carriage pin extending therefrom; b. a pivotally mounted first engine slave throttle lever having means defining a locking detent, said locking detent includes a ramp which provides means for automatically engaging said first slave throttle to said master lever when said carriage pin rides over said ramp and spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin of said master lever into said locking detent; and c. a pivotally mounted second engine slave throttle lever having means defining an elongated detent, said elongated detent include a ramp which provides means for automatically engaging said second throttle lever to said master lever when said carriage pin rides over said ramp and adapted to provide for limited free pivotal movement of said second slave lever relative to said master lever, said second slave lever being provided with spring means to releasably engage said carriage pin into said elongated detent.

Claim 15

The lever assembly of the type set forth in claim 9 in which said master lever and both said first and said second slave levers are pivotally mounted on a common shaft.