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US5986580A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flight control indicator for aircraft

Assignee: Airbus Helicopters SAS
•
Filing: 1998-12-10
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2018-12-10
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Abstract

Abstract A flight control indicator for twin-engine aircraft, in particular a rotary-wing aircraft comprising two turboengines for driving at least one rotor, intended to provide the power margin available on the engines of the aircraft as a function of the flight conditions. Display means (6) presents a single dial (8) furnished with two needles (9 1 , 9 2 ), each of them corresponding to a respective engine, and positioned in such a way that, when the engines are operating normally, the two needles are merged.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alain Permanne

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 12:34
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D43/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 227 words
A flight control indicator for twin-engine aircraft, in particular a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising two turboengines for driving at least one rotor, intended to provide the power margin available on the engines of the aircraft as a function of the flight conditions, comprising: sensors (2, 3, 4) able to deliver information relating to various parameters for monitoring the engines, namely the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), means (5) for processing the information arising from said sensors, and display means (6) which present, on display screen (7), the processed information relating to the parameter, from among said monitoring parameters, whose current value is closest to the limit value for said parameter, wherein said display means (6) presents a single dial (8) furnished with two needles (9 1 , 9 2 ), each of them corresponding to a respective engine, and positioned in such a way that, when the engines are operating normally, the two needles are merged, and each needle (9 1 , 9 2 ) presenting the smallest margin between the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), said display means having two distinct graduations making it possible to differentiate, in flight, an idling engine from an engine which is faulty or has almost shut down.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 227 words
A flight control indicator for twin-engine aircraft, in particular a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising two turboengines for driving at least one rotor, intended to provide the power margin available on the engines of the aircraft as a function of the flight conditions, comprising: sensors (2, 3, 4) able to deliver information relating to various parameters for monitoring the engines, namely the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), means (5) for processing the information arising from said sensors, and display means (6) which present, on display screen (7), the processed information relating to the parameter, from among said monitoring parameters, whose current value is closest to the limit value for said parameter, wherein said display means (6) presents a single dial (8) furnished with two needles (9 1 , 9 2 ), each of them corresponding to a respective engine, and positioned in such a way that, when the engines are operating normally, the two needles are merged, and each needle (9 1 , 9 2 ) presenting the smallest margin between the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), said display means having two distinct graduations making it possible to differentiate, in flight, an idling engine from an engine which is faulty or has almost shut down.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each engine, one mode, from among the various possible modes of operation of the engines, is automatically selected and displayed on said dial (8) as a function of the state of the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein, for each mode of operation of the engines, the corresponding limitations, functions of the state of the engines and of their environments, in particular power limitations, are presented on said dial (8).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in startup mode, only the two limits of T4 at startup are presented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 1, comprising the displaying, on said display means (6), of the true numerical values of various parameters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 10 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 1, comprising mobile graduations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 249 words
A flight control indicator for twin-engine aircraft, in particular a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising two turboengines for driving at least one rotor, intended to provide the power margin available on the engines of the aircraft as a function of the flight conditions, comprising: sensors (2, 3, 4) able to deliver information relating to various parameters for monitoring the engines, namely the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), means (5) for processing the information arising from said sensors, and display means (6) which present, on a display screen (7), the processed information relating to the parameter, from among said monitoring parameters, whose current value is closest to the limit value for said parameter, wherein said display means (6) present a single dial (8) furnished with two needles (9 1 , 9 2 ), each of them corresponding to a respective engine, and positioned in such a way that, when the engines are operating normally, the two needles are merged, and each needle (9 1 , 9 2 ) presenting the smallest margin between the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), and wherein, for each engine, one mode, from among the various possible modes of operation of the engines, is automatically selected and displayed on said dial (8) as a function of the state of the engines, only the two limits of T4 at startup being presented in startup mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 249 words
A flight control indicator for twin-engine aircraft, in particular a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising two turboengines for driving at least one rotor, intended to provide the power margin available on the engines of the aircraft as a function of the flight conditions, comprising: sensors (2, 3, 4) able to deliver information relating to various parameters for monitoring the engines, namely the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), means (5) for processing the information arising from said sensors, and display means (6) which present, on a display screen (7), the processed information relating to the parameter, from among said monitoring parameters, whose current value is closest to the limit value for said parameter, wherein said display means (6) present a single dial (8) furnished with two needles (9 1 , 9 2 ), each of them corresponding to a respective engine, and positioned in such a way that, when the engines are operating normally, the two needles are merged, and each needle (9 1 , 9 2 ) presenting the smallest margin between the gas generator regime (Ng), the free turbine inlet gas ejection temperature (T4), and the engine torque (Cm), and wherein, for each engine, one mode, from among the various possible modes of operation of the engines, is automatically selected and displayed on said dial (8) as a function of the state of the engines, only the two limits of T4 at startup being presented in startup mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein, for each mode of operation of the engines, the corresponding limitations, functions of the state of the engines and of their environments, in particular power limitations, are presented on said dial (8).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 7, comprising the displaying, on said display means (6), of the true numerical values of various parameters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 7, comprising two distinct graduations making it possible to differentiate, in flight, an idling engine from an engine which is faulty or has almost shut down.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 10 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 7, comprising mobile graduations.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2002-11-15 2003-05-17 2003-11-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-11-15 2007-05-17 2007-11-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-11-15 2011-05-17 2011-11-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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