Patent ID: 9096310
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A four-bar vehicle control providing up to three independent or combined axes of control input, comprising: a four-bar assembly comprising: i) an upper first bar member having a first rotatable forward pivot coupling and a first aft pivot coupling, the first forward and aft pivot couplings being coupled to opposite ends of the first bar member, wherein the first rotatable forward pivot coupling is configured to provide two degrees of freedom; ii) a forward upwardly-extending second bar member, wherein the first rotatable forward pivot coupling is coupled to an upper portion of the forward upwardly-extending second bar member; iii) a rearward upwardly-extending third bar member, wherein the first aft pivot coupling is coupled to an upper portion of the rearward upwardly-extending third bar member; and iv) a second rotatable forward pivot coupling and a second aft pivot coupling establishing end locations of a lower fourth bar, wherein the second rotatable forward pivot coupling is coupled to a lower portion of the second bar member, and the second aft pivot coupling is coupled to a lower portion of the third bar member; and wherein the second rotatable forward pivot coupling is configured to provide two degrees of freedom; a pivotally mounted linkage member coupled to the second aft pivot coupling, wherein the pivotally mounted linkage member, the second rotatable forward pivot coupling and the second aft pivot coupling are aligned on an axis; wherein the pivotally mounted linkage member and the second rotatable forward pivot coupling with two degrees of freedom enable the four-bar assembly to rotate about the axis of the pivotally mounted linkage member; a control input shaft rotatably mounted to and generally parallel to the upper first bar member, with an aft portion of the control input shaft extending rearward beyond the first bar member and equipped with an operator control input selected from the group consisting of a yoke, steering wheel and one or more control input handles, the operator control input being configured to receive said up to three independent or combined axes of control inputs; an upper transmission element that rotatably couples the control input shaft and the first rotatable forward pivot coupling, wherein rotational control input made to the aft portion of the control input shaft is transmitted to the second bar member via the first rotatable forward pivot coupling; a lower transmission element rotatably coupled to the rotatable second bar member via the second rotatable forward pivot coupling, the lower transmission element enabling the rotational input to be transmitted to an element selected from the group consisting of a movable surface for yaw axis control, and a steerable component for steering control; wherein the pivotally mounted linkage member is coupled to a lower portion of the four-bar assembly to transmit lateral, roll input made to the aft end of the control input shaft to a movable surface that provides roll axis control; and, a pitch control linkage coupled to the lower portion of the upwardly-extending third bar member such that the coupling of the pitch control linkage to the third bar member is configured to transmit forward or aft input made to the aft end of the elongated control input shaft to a movable surface that provides pitch axis control.