US5531402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless flight control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-03-23
•
Granted: 1996-07-02
•
Expires: 2015-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A primary or backup flight control system for controlling the flight path of an aircraft or spacecraft using wireless transmitters (15 and 16) located near the flight deck (14) and positioned within, or on, the outer skin of the fuselage (10). These transmitters (15 and 16) send pilot-generated, wireless, e.g. infra-red, flight control signals (17 and 18) to receivers (19 and 21) located within, or on, the engines, wings, and tail assembly surfaces. These signals (17 and 18) are then directed to their respective engines or moveable flight control surfaces. These wireless control signals (17 and 18) are transmitted externally of the fuselage structure (10) and the transmission and receipt of these signals takes place on a single aircraft or spacecraft structure. In case of fuselage damage, e.g., due to structural failure, internal explosions, air-to-air collision, or military combat, which damages the primary flight control system (hydraulic, wire or cable), the present system will remain operative.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Dahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:47
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C13/00; B64C13/24; B64C13/38; B64C13/50; B64C13/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An external wireless travel direction controller system for an enclosed vehicle having an internal direction controller system within said vehicle, comprising: (a) at least one operator-controllable means for enabling an operator of said vehicle to make at least one adjustment for controlling said vehicle's travel direction, (b) a wireless transmitter means mounted continuous with the external surface of said vehicle for converting operator-made adjustments of said operator controllable means into a signal containing encoded information indicative of said operator made adjustments, and transmitting said signal in a wireless, through-the-air mode, external to said vehicle (c) a receiver means, located at an exterior surface of said vehicle and remote from said wireless transmitter means, for receiving said wireless signal on said vehicle and converting said signal to a wire-carried signal for controlling said at least one travel direction adjustment, (d) an adjustment means for adjusting a travel-direction controlling means in response to said wire-carried signal, and (e) a switching means for switching between said internal travel direction controller system and said external wireless controller system, whereby directional control is maintained when an interruption of the internal controller system structure and/or function occurs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An external wireless travel direction controller system for an enclosed vehicle having an internal direction controller system within said vehicle, comprising: (a) at least one operator-controllable means for enabling an operator of said vehicle to make at least one adjustment for controlling said vehicle's travel direction, (b) a wireless transmitter means mounted continuous with the external surface of said vehicle for converting operator-made adjustments of said operator controllable means into a signal containing encoded information indicative of said operator made adjustments, and transmitting said signal in a wireless, through-the-air mode, external to said vehicle (c) a receiver means, located at an exterior surface of said vehicle and remote from said wireless transmitter means, for receiving said wireless signal on said vehicle and converting said signal to a wire-carried signal for controlling said at least one travel direction adjustment, (d) an adjustment means for adjusting a travel-direction controlling means in response to said wire-carried signal, and (e) a switching means for switching between said internal travel direction controller system and said external wireless controller system, whereby directional control is maintained when an interruption of the internal controller system structure and/or function occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 in which said switching means includes a conventional switch for manual activation by said operator for said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1, further including a hydraulic control system forming part of said internal direction controller system having a plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor switches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 3, further including a plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor switches for sensing changes in hydraulic pressure in said hydraulic control system that exceeds a predetermined preset limit and thereupon automatically activate said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a cable tension sensor switch means for activating said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said cable tension sensor switch is arranged to detect a break in a control cable and activate said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a continuity sensing switch for activating said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle is an airplane with a fly-by-wire control system and said continuity sensing switch is arranged to detect a break in a wire in said fly-by-wire control system and to activate said external travel direction controller system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said operator-controllable means comprises a means for converting operator generated hydraulic control pressure values to equivalent electronic signal values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said operator-controllable means comprises a flight computer means for modifying a pilot generated electronic control signal value to fit within a predetermined control signal value for use by a computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means and said receiver means transmits and receives a plurality of infra-red signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said external direction controller system comprises an electronically controlled mechanical valve device means for metering an equivalent hydraulic control pressure value output in response to an equivalent electronic signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said external direction controller system comprises a hydraulic cylinder means for converting said equivalent hydraulic control pressure value into an equivalent mechanical movement of said adjusting travel-direction controlling means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is an aircraft and said travel-direction controlling means comprise a plurality of adjustable control surfaces on the exterior of said aircraft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said travel direction controlling means is an aircraft rudder, an aircraft elevator, a plurality of aircraft ailerons, an aircraft engine, and a plurality of wing and tail mounted adjustable control surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is an airplane comprising a flight deck, a plurality of wing structures, an engine, a tail assembly, and a control system with means providing a backup battery operated power supply for all electronically operated components within said flight deck, wing structures, engines, and tail assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
145 words
In an aircraft which has an aircraft structure and a plurality of moveable control surfaces for effecting pitch, roll, and yaw moments, and which has an internal flight control system including a plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means, an external wireless flight control system comprising: (a) a means continuous with the exterior surface of said aircraft structure for initiating and transmitting a plurality of through-the-air flight control signals external to the aircraft in response to an activation from one of said plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means exceeding a predetermined limit, in a wireless, through-the-air mode, and (b) a means located near said plurality of moveable control surfaces for receiving said plurality of said through-the-air flight control signals and including means for moving said moveable control surfaces in response to said plurality of flight control signals when in said external wireless flight control system configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
145 words
In an aircraft which has an aircraft structure and a plurality of moveable control surfaces for effecting pitch, roll, and yaw moments, and which has an internal flight control system including a plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means, an external wireless flight control system comprising: (a) a means continuous with the exterior surface of said aircraft structure for initiating and transmitting a plurality of through-the-air flight control signals external to the aircraft in response to an activation from one of said plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means exceeding a predetermined limit, in a wireless, through-the-air mode, and (b) a means located near said plurality of moveable control surfaces for receiving said plurality of said through-the-air flight control signals and including means for moving said moveable control surfaces in response to said plurality of flight control signals when in said external wireless flight control system configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means are arranged to activate a plurality of relay switches including a main relay switch in said external wireless flight control system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said plurality of hydraulic pressure sensor means are arranged to detect hydraulic pressure in said system exceeding a predetermined value and deactivate said internal flight control system while activating said main relay switch in said external wireless flight control system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 17, further including a plurality of continuity sensors and a fly-by-wire circuit in said internal control system, said internal control system including a main relay switch for automatically initiating said external wireless flight control system, said continuity sensors being arranged to detect a break in said fly-by-wire circuit and thereby activate said main relay switch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said continuity sensors are arranged to detect a circuit break in said fly-by-wire control system and deactivate said fly-by-wire internal control system while activating said main relay switch in said external wireless flight control system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 17, further including a plurality of cable tension sensors and a cable and pulley system containing said cable tension sensors, said sensors being arranged to activate a main relay switch in said external wireless control system in response to a predetermined change in cable tension.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said cable tension sensors are arranged to detect a break in said cable and pulley control system and deactivate said system while activating said main relay switch in said external wireless flight control system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3146972A
Cited
US3219975A
Cited
US4132378A
Cited
US4793576A
Cited
US4516063A
Cited
US4765568A
Cited
US4762294A
Cited
US4759515A
Cited
US4793137A
Cited
US5100081A
Cited
US4876906A
Cited
US4965879A
Cited
US5330131A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-01-01 | 2000-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-02 | 2004-01-01 | 2004-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-02 | 2008-01-01 | 2008-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |