Selective deceleration brake control system

Claim 2

A brake control system for applying and controlling the brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle independently of operator brake application, comprising: signal generating means for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of said wheel; anti-skid control means for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; comparison means for comparing said wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheel independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration; and means for preventing said brake application means from applying said brake pressure in response to said deceleration brake control signal and for applying brake pressure in response to said anti-skid brake control signal when said anti-skid brake control signal commands a lower brake pressure than does said deceleration brake control signal.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said reference generating means includes means for establishing an initial reference velocity signal value based on the maximum value attained by said wheel speed signal during wheel spin-up.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said brake control system further comprises a deceleration control turn-on means for energizing said deceleration control signal generating means and causing said deceleration control means to provide an initial deceleration control signal of maximum value commanding a full brake release followed by a gradual decrease from said maximum value to permit a corresponding gradual increase in brake pressure.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said brake control system further comprises means for de-actuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said de-actuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein said control means provides said signal initially upon the actuation of a switch means by the operator.

Claim 7

A brake control system for applying and controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of a pair of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft independently of operator brake application, comprising: signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to each of said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration; and means for preventing said brake application means from applying said brake pressure in response to said brake control signal and for applying brake pressure in response to said anti-skid brake control signal when said anti-skid brake control signal commands a lower brake pressure than does said deceleration brake control signal.

Claim 8

A brake control system for applying and controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of a pair of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft independently of operator brake application, comprising: signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to each of said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration; and means for preventing said brake application means from applying said brake pressure in response to said brake control signal and for applying brake pressure in response to said anti-skid brake control signal when said anti-skid brake control signal commands a lower brake pressure than does said deceleration brake control signal.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said reference generating means includes means for establishing an initial reference velocity signal value based on the maximum value attained by said wheel speed signal during wheel spin-up.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said brake control system further comprises a deceleration control turn-on means for energizing said deceleration control signal generating means and causing said deceleration control means to provide an initial deceleration control signal of maximum value commanding a full brake release followed by a gradual decrease from said maximum value to permit a corresponding gradual increase in brake pressure.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said brake control system further comprises means for de-actuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said de-actuation a deceleraton control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said deceleration brake control signal comprises a time integral function of said error signal.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said deceleration control means includes circuit means having a predetermined actuation threshold level and wherein said time integral function is a time integral function of both positive and negative variation of said error signal from said threshold level.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said deceleration brake control signal further comprises a nonintegral, proportional function of said error signal.

Claim 15

A brake control system, for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, for applying and controlling a brake application means for said wheels independently of operator brake application, said system comprising: anti-skid control means for providing an anti-skid brake control signal; signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means in each of said wheel groups responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels in said group to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said average signals for the associated wheel group with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal for the associated wheel group and said reference signal; control means associated with each group of wheels for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration; and means for preventing said brake application means from applying said brake pressure in response to said deceleration brake control signal for said group of wheels and for applying brake pressure in response to said anti-skid brake control signal when said anti-skid brake control signal commands a lower brake pressure than does said deceleration brake control signal.

Claim 16

A brake control system, for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, for applying and controlling a brake application means for said wheels independently of operator brake application, said system comprising: anti-skid control means for providing an anti-skid brake control signal; signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means in each of said wheel groups responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels in said group to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said average signals for the associated wheel group with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal for the associated wheel group and said reference signal; control means associated with each group of wheels for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration; and means for preventing said brake application means from applying said brake pressure in response to said deceleration brake control signal for said group of wheels and for applying brake pressure in response to said anti-skid brake control signal when said anti-skid brake control signal commands a lower brake pressure than does said deceleration brake control signal.

Claim 17

The invention defined in claim 13 further comprising: a means associated with each of said control means for comparing the output thereof with the output of another of said control means associated with another wheel group to cause the output of the associated control means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other control means.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 13 where in each of said control means provides said signal initially upon the actuation of a switch means by the operator.

Claim 19

A deceleration control system for applying and controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of group of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft independently of operator brake application, comprising: signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average signal with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal and said reference signal; and control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 20

A deceleration control system for applying and controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of group of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft independently of operator brake application, comprising: signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average signal with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal and said reference signal; and control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 21

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said reference generating means includes means for establishing an initial reference signal value based on the maximum value attained by said average signal during wheel spin-up.

Claim 22

The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said brake control system further comprises a control turn-on means for energizing said control means and causing said control means to provide an initial deceleration control signal of maximum value commanding a full brake release followed by a gradual decrease from said maximum value to permit a corresponding gradual increase in brake pressure.

Claim 23

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said brake control system further comprises means for deactuating said control means and for causing said control means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 24

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said deceleration brake control signal comprises a time integral function of said error signal.

Claim 25

The invention defined in claim 20 wherein said control means includes circuit means having a predetermined actuation threshold level and wherein said time integral function is a time integral function of both positive and negative variation of said error signal from said threshold level.

Claim 26

The invention defined in claim 21 wherein said deceleration brake control signal further comprises a nonintegral, proportional function of said error signal.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 16 wherein said control means provides said signal initially upon the actuation of a switch means by the operator.

Claim 28

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of brake load-bearing wheels, for applying and controlling a brake application means for said wheels independently of operator brake application, said system comprising: signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels in said group to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said average signal for the associated wheel group with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal for the associated wheel group and said reference signal; and control means associated with each group of wheels for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 29

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of brake load-bearing wheels, for applying and controlling a brake application means for said wheels independently of operator brake application, said system comprising: signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a first signal that is related to the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference signal; rate selector means for manually selecting said reference signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups responsive to the first signal associated with each of said wheels in said group to form an average signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said average signal for the associated wheel group with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average signal for the associated wheel group and said reference signal; and control means associated with each group of wheels for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheels independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 30

The invention defined in claim 24 wherein each of said reference generating means includes means for establishing an initial reference signal value based on the maximum value attained by said average signal during wheel spin-up.

Claim 31

The invention defined in claim 24 wherein said brake control system further comprises for each of said wheel groups a control turn-on means for energizing said control means associated therewith and causing said associated control means to provide an initial deceleration control signal of maximum value commanding a full brake release followed by a gradual decrease from said maximum value to permit a corresponding gradual increase in brake pressure.

Claim 32

The invention defined in claim 24 wherein said brake control system further comprises for each of said wheel groups means for deactuating said control means associated therewith and for causing said associated control means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 33

The invention defined in claim 24 wherein each said deceleration brake control signal comprises a time integral function of said error signal.

Claim 34

The invention defined in claim 28 wherein each said control means includes circuit means having a predetermined actuation threshold level and wherein said time integral function is a time integral function of both positive and negative variation of said error signal from said threshold level.

Claim 35

The invention defined in claim 29 wherein each said deceleration brake control signal further comprises a non-integral, proportional function of said error signal.

Claim 36

The invention in claim 30 further comprising: a means associated with each of said control means for comparing the time integral function formed thereby with the time integral function formed by another of said control means associated with another wheel group to cause the time integral function formed by said associated control means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other control means.

Claim 37

A brake control system for controlling the brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle comprising: analog signal generating means for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of said wheel; anti-skid control means for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of wheel deceleration; comparison means for comparing said wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide deceleration brake control signal; gate means for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal and said deceleration brake control signal to transmit for control of said brake application means the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 38

A brake control system for controlling the brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle comprising: analog signal generating means for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of said wheel; anti-skid control means for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of wheel deceleration; comparison means for comparing said wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide deceleration brake control signal; gate means for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal and said deceleration brake control signal to transmit for control of said brake application means the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 39

A brake control system for controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of a pair of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft comprising: analog signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal for control of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of wheel deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration brake control signal; gate means for each of said wheels for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal for its associated wheel and said deceleration brake control signal to transmit for control of the brake application means for its associated wheel the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 40

A brake control system for controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of a pair of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft comprising: analog signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels for receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal for control of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of wheel deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration brake control signal; gate means for each of said wheels for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal for its associated wheel and said deceleration brake control signal to transmit for control of the brake application means for its associated wheel the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 41

A brake control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal for control of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; gate means for each of said wheels for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal for said wheel and said deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group to transmit for control of brake application means associated with said wheel the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and a pressure balance means associated with each of said deceleration control signal generating means for comparing an output thereof with an output of another deceleration control signal generating means for another wheel group to cause the output of the associated deceleration control signal generating means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other deceleration control signal generating means.

Claim 42

A brake control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; anti-skid control means for each of said wheels receiving and processing said wheel speed signal to provide an anti-skid brake control signal for control of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; gate means for each of said wheels for receiving and comparing said anti-skid brake control signal for said wheel and said deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group to transmit for control of brake application means associated with said wheel the control signal which commands the lower brake pressure; and a pressure balance means associated with each of said deceleration control signal generating means for comparing an output thereof with an output of another deceleration control signal generating means for another wheel group to cause the output of the associated deceleration control signal generating means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other deceleration control signal generating means.

Claim 43

A decelerational control system controlling the brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle comprising: analog signal generating means for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of said wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; comparison means for comparing said wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; control means responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration brake control signal; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 44

A decelerational control system controlling the brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle comprising: analog signal generating means for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of said wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; comparison means for comparing said wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; control means responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration brake control signal; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 45

A deceleration control system controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of group of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft comprising: analog signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration brake control signal; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 46

A deceleration control system controlling the brake application means associated with each wheel of group of braked load-bearing wheels of an aircraft comprising: analog signal generating means for each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means responsive to the wheel speed signal associated with each of said wheels to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for comparing said average wheel speed signal with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means responsive to said error signal to provide a deceleration brake control signal; and means for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means and for causing said deceleration control signal generating means to provide incident to said deactuation a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 47

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotation speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; and means for each of said wheel groups for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means associated therewith and for causing said associated deceleration control signal generating means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 48

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotation speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; and means for each of said wheel groups for deactuating said deceleration control signal generating means associated therewith and for causing said associated deceleration control signal generating means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 49

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; and a pressure balance means associated with each of said deceleration control signal generating means for comparing the signal formed thereby with the signal formed by another deceleration control signal generating means for another wheel group to cause the signal formed by said associated deceleration control signal generating means of the associated deceleration control signal generating means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other deceleration control signal generating means.

Claim 50

A deceleration control system for an aircraft having plural groups of braked load-bearing wheels, said system comprising: analog signal generating means associated with each of said wheels for producing a wheel speed signal that is a function of the rotational speed of its associated wheel; reference generating means for generating a reference velocity signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of deceleration; averaging means for each of said wheel groups for each of the wheels in its associated wheel group to form an average wheel speed signal therefrom; comparison means for each of said wheel groups for comparing said wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group with said reference velocity signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said average wheel speed signal for the associated wheel group and said reference velocity signal; deceleration control signal generating means for each of said wheel groups responsive to said error signal for the associated wheel group to provide a deceleration brake control signal for the associated wheel group; and a pressure balance means associated with each of said deceleration control signal generating means for comparing the signal formed thereby with the signal formed by another deceleration control signal generating means for another wheel group to cause the signal formed by said associated deceleration control signal generating means of the associated deceleration control signal generating means to command a brake pressure level not less than that commanded by said other deceleration control signal generating means.

Claim 51

A brake control system for applying and controlling a brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle independently of operator brake application comprising: signal generating means for producing a first signal that is proportional to the speed of said wheel; reference generating means for generating a velocity reference signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; comparison means for comparing said first signal with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said first signal and said reference signal; and control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheel independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration brake control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 52

A brake control system for applying and controlling a brake application means for a wheel of a vehicle independently of operator brake application comprising: signal generating means for producing a first signal that is proportional to the speed of said wheel; reference generating means for generating a velocity reference signal having a selectively variable rate of decrease; rate selector means for manually selecting a rate of decrease of said reference velocity signal indicative of a desired rate of vehicle deceleration; comparison means for comparing said first signal with said reference signal for generating an error signal indicative of the difference between said first signal and said reference signal; and control means for providing a signal to said brake application means to apply brake pressure to said wheel independently of operator brake application and responsive to said error signal to provide a selected deceleration brake control signal for controlling said brake pressure in order to maintain said desired rate of deceleration.

Claim 53

The invention defined in claim 39 wherein said deceleration brake control signal comprises a time integral function of said error signal.

Claim 54

The invention defined in claim 40 wherein said deceleration control means includes circuit means having a predetermined actuation threshold level and wherein said time integral function is a time integral function of both positive and negative variation of said error signal from said threshold level.

Claim 55

The invention defined in claim 40 wherein said deceleration brake control signal further comprises a non-integral, proportional function of said error signal.

Claim 56

The invention defined in claim 39 wherein said deceleration control system further comprises a deceleration control turn-on means for energizing said control means and causing said control means to provide an initial deceleration control signal of maximum value commanding a full brake release followed by a gradual decrease from said maximum value to permit a corresponding gradual increase in brake pressure.

Claim 57

The invention defined in claim 39 wherein said deceleration control system further comprises means for deactuating said control means and for causing said control means incident to said deactuation to provide a deceleration control signal of gradually decreasing value to permit a gradual decrease in brake pressure.

Claim 58

The invention defined in claim 39 wherein said deceleration brake control signal comprises a time integral function of said error signal.

Claim 59

The invention defined in claim 45 wherein said control means includes circuit means having a predetermined actuation threshold level and wherein said time integral function is a time integral function of both positive and negative variation of said error signal from said threshold level.

Claim 60

The invention defined in claim 45 wherein said deceleration brake control signal further comprises a nonintegral, proportional function of said error signal.

Claim 61

The invention of claim 39 wherein said control means provides said signal initially upon the actuation of a switch means by the operator.