US4093158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Airplane instrument with throttle control selectively regulated by air speed or lift
Assignee: Allard Way Holdings Ltd
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Filing: 1976-12-23
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Granted: 1978-06-06
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Expires: 1996-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft instrument comprising equipment for providing a first signal which is a function of airspeed and suitable for use in controlling an aircraft by variation of the airspeed to a predetermined value, an apparatus for providing a second signal which is a function of lift and suitable for use in controlling the aircraft by variation of the airspeed to adjust the lift to a predetermined value, and a selecting apparatus arranged to apply the second signal to a signal utilization mechanism for controlling the aircraft in accordance with said second signal except when said second signal falls below a predetermined datum level, which represents a safe margin above stall, whereupon the first signal is applied to the signal utilization mechanism, the selecting apparatus being arranged to provide a transition between control by the first signal and control by the second signal which is shorter than a transition between control by the second signal and control by the first signal.
Inventors
- 👤 David George Clews
- 👤 David Sweeting
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C23/00; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/04; G05D1/06; G05D1/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An aircraft instrument comprising: (a) means for providing a first signal which is a function of airspeed and suitable for use in controlling an aircraft by variation of the airspeed to a predetermined value; (b) means for providing a second signal which is a function of lift and suitable for use in controlling the aircraft by variation of the airspeed to adjust the lift to a predetermined value; (c) selecting means arranged to apply the second signal to signal utilization means for controlling the aircraft in accordance with said second signal except when said second signal falls below a predetermined datum level, which represents a safe margin above stall, whereupon the first signal is applied to the signal utilization means; and (d) the selecting means being arranged to provide a transition between control by the first signal and control by the second signal which is shorter than a transition between control by the second signal and control by the first signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
An aircraft instrument comprising: (a) means for providing a first signal which is a function of airspeed and suitable for use in controlling an aircraft by variation of the airspeed to a predetermined value; (b) means for providing a second signal which is a function of lift and suitable for use in controlling the aircraft by variation of the airspeed to adjust the lift to a predetermined value; (c) selecting means arranged to apply the second signal to signal utilization means for controlling the aircraft in accordance with said second signal except when said second signal falls below a predetermined datum level, which represents a safe margin above stall, whereupon the first signal is applied to the signal utilization means; and (d) the selecting means being arranged to provide a transition between control by the first signal and control by the second signal which is shorter than a transition between control by the second signal and control by the first signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal is an error signal constituted by the difference between actual airspeed and a pilot preselected airspeed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second signal is an error signal constituted by the difference between actual lift and a computed lift having a safe margin above stall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computed lift is a function of the position of aircraft flaps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computed lift is a function of the angle of bank of the aircraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 3, including means for providing the computed lift comprising a first sensing and computing arrangement for producing a signal which is a function of the position of aircraft flaps, a second sensing and computing arrangement for producing a signal which is a function of the angle of bank of the aircraft, a third sensing and computing arrangement for producing a signal which is a function of the actual airspeed of the aircraft, and a mixing arrangement for combining these signals to provide an output signal indicative of a computed lift a safe margin above stall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal applied to the signal utilization means is arranged to be modified in accordance with the longitudinal acceleration of the aircraft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selecting means is arranged to provide a smooth and continuous transition between control by one signal and control by the other signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selecting means is arranged to provide a transition between control by the first signal and control by the second signal which takes substantially 0.1 seconds, and a transition between control by the second signal and control by the first signal which takes substantially 6.0 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal utilization means comprises apparatus for automatically controlling the aircraft in accordance with the selected signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal utilization means comprises apparatus for automatically controlling the aircraft throttle in accordance with the selected signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal utilization means comprises indicating apparatus for facilitating manual control of the aircraft in accordance with the selected signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aircraft instrument as claimed in claim 1, provided with latching circuit means arranged to ensure that a return to control by the first signal cannot be brought about by transient changes in the second signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-05 | 1981-12-05 | 1982-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-12-05 | 1986-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-05 | 1989-12-05 | 1990-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |