Helicopter performance calculator

Claim 1

A device for aiding a helicopter operator in quickly determining the maximum hover weight of the helicopter comprising: means for receiving a first input signal analogous to the air temperature outside of such helicopter, means for converting said first input signal into a first electronic signal; means for storing said first electronic signal; means for receiving a second input signal analogous to the pressure altitude outside of such helicopter; means for converting said second input signal into a second electronic signal, means for storing said second electronic signal; means for storing a plurality of other preprogrammed electronic signals analogous to the constants required and the calculations required in the computation of the available torque of such helicopter and the maximum hover weight of such helicopter; first and second electrical switches; first actuation means responsive to closing of said first switch for automatically converting said first and second electronic signals and certain ones of said other signals into a torque electronic signal analogous to the available torque of such helicopter; display means for receiving said torque electronic signal and for producing an alphanumeric display readable by such operator analogous to said torque electronic signal; second actuation means responsive to closing of said second switch for automatically converting said first and second electronic signals, certain ones of said other signals and said torque electronic signal into a hover electronic signal analogous to the maximum weight at which such helicopter can hover under ambient conditions; and means for receiving said hover electronic signal and for producing on said display means an alphanumeric display readable by such operator analogous to said hover electronic signal.

Claim 2

A device for aiding a helicopter operator in quickly determining the maximum hover weight of the helicopter comprising: means for receiving a first input signal analogous to the air temperature outside of such helicopter, means for converting said first input signal into a first electronic signal; means for storing said first electronic signal; means for receiving a second input signal analogous to the pressure altitude outside of such helicopter; means for converting said second input signal into a second electronic signal, means for storing said second electronic signal; means for storing a plurality of other preprogrammed electronic signals analogous to the constants required and the calculations required in the computation of the available torque of such helicopter and the maximum hover weight of such helicopter; first and second electrical switches; first actuation means responsive to closing of said first switch for automatically converting said first and second electronic signals and certain ones of said other signals into a torque electronic signal analogous to the available torque of such helicopter; display means for receiving said torque electronic signal and for producing an alphanumeric display readable by such operator analogous to said torque electronic signal; second actuation means responsive to closing of said second switch for automatically converting said first and second electronic signals, certain ones of said other signals and said torque electronic signal into a hover electronic signal analogous to the maximum weight at which such helicopter can hover under ambient conditions; and means for receiving said hover electronic signal and for producing on said display means an alphanumeric display readable by such operator analogous to said hover electronic signal.