DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN ANGULAR TRAVEL OF A VEHICLE CONTROL MEMBER

The invention relates to a device for detecting angular movement of a control member of a vehicle, the device comprising at least one driving portion (1) arranged to be driven in turning by the control member about a first axis (X0) and at least one sensor for measuring angular movement of the driving portion about the first axis (11, 12, 13), the sensor having a pivot input shaft (14, 15, 16) that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis and that is connected to move in turning with the driving portion by connection means. According to the invention, the connection means comprise at least a first connecting rod (17, 35) hinged to the driving part and at least one link (21, 22, 23) the link being hinged at a first end (21a, 22a, 23a) to the first connecting rod and having a second end (21b, 22b, 23b) connected to move in turning with the input shaft of the sensor so that angular movement of the driving portion acts via the first connecting rod to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the sensor.

The invention relates to a device for detecting angular movement of a vehicle control member such as a throttle lever of an aircraft.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of aviation, the angular movement of the throttle lever is determined with the help of a device for detecting angular movement of the throttle lever, which device has a driving portion arranged to be driven in turning by said lever and sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion, which sensors are arranged around the driving portion. Each sensor has a spur gear secured to its pivot input shaft, with the various spur gears meshing with a toothed sector secured to the driving portion.

Thus, when the driving portion is caused to move in turning by the throttle lever, it drives rotation of the various gears and thus of the input shafts of the various sensors so that each sensor detects the angular movement of the throttle lever.

Nevertheless, such a device is found to be expensive and difficult to install. It is necessary to ensure that the gears mesh properly with the driving portion and it is also necessary to release a significant amount of space around the driving portion in order to receive the various gears and the associated sensors. Furthermore, slack can sometimes occur in the meshing between one or more gears and the driving portion, thereby falsifying the measurements of the associated sensors. It is then necessary to insert backlash take-up wheels between the gears in question and the driving portion, thereby making the detector device more complex and more voluminous.

Furthermore, certain applications, in particular in aviation, require the angular movement of the driving portion to be determined by a large number of sensors. It is then not possible to arrange all of the sensors around the driving portion because of the size of the sensors, and as a result it is not possible to have all of the spur gears concerned meshing directly with the driving portion. Certain sensors then need to be offset from the driving portion and their gears need to mesh with intermediate gears arranged between said gears and the driving portion.

Such a device is found to be even more complex and voluminous. In addition, because of the large number of gears, the measurements taken by the sensors are more likely to be erroneous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to propose a device for detecting angular movement of a vehicle control member that obviates the above-mentioned problems, at least in part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve this object, the invention provides a device for detecting angular movement of a control member of a vehicle, e.g. a throttle lever of an aircraft, the device comprising at least one driving portion arranged to be driven in turning by the control member about a first axis and at least one sensor for measuring angular movement of the driving portion about the first axis, the sensor having a pivot input shaft that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis and that is connected to move in turning with the driving portion by connection means.

According to the invention, the connection means comprise at least a first connecting rod hinged to the driving part and at least one link member having a first end hinged to the connecting rod and a second end connected to move in turning with the input shaft of the sensor so that angular movement of the driving portion acts via the first connecting rod to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the sensor.

Thus, the connection means require few elements for connecting the driving portion to move in turning with the various shafts of the sensors. Furthermore, the connection means of the invention make it possible to avoid using slack-originating elements such as gears.

The device of the invention thus makes it possible to detect very accurately the angular movement of the movement member while being not very complex.

Furthermore, the driving portion may be of small size since it is only the connection rod that needs to be hinged thereto, thereby limiting the size of the device of the invention.

In addition, the connection means enable the sensors to be offset from the driving portion, thus making it possible to have a large number of sensors connected to move in turning with the driving portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detector device of the invention is used in this example to measure the angular movement of an aircraft throttle lever. This application is naturally not limiting and the invention may be applied to measuring the angular movement of any other control member of a vehicle, such as for example rudder pedals, or an accelerator pedal or lever.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 2and in a first embodiment, the device of the invention comprises a driving portion1arranged to be driven in turning by the throttle lever (not shown) about a first axis of rotation X0. For example, the driving portion1has a handle2that is constrained to move in turning with the throttle lever.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has a first series of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion1about the first axis X0. In this example, the first series of sensors comprises a first sensor11, a second sensor12, and a third sensor13. The first sensor11has a pivot input shaft14that extends along a direction X1that is substantially parallel to the first axis X0. Likewise, the second sensor12has a pivot input shaft15that extends along a direction X2that is substantially parallel to the first axis X0, and the third sensor13has a pivot input shaft16that extends along a direction X3that is substantially parallel to the first axis X0. In this example, all three sensors are sensors of the inductive angular type, such as sensors of the rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) type.

The device also has connection means connecting each sensor11,12, and13to move in turning together with the driving portion1.

In the invention, the connection means comprise a first connecting rod17hinged to the driving portion1at a first end17a.

In this example, the connection means further comprise a first series of links comprising a first link21associated with the first sensor11, a second link22associated with the second sensor12, and a third link23associated with the third sensor13. In this example, all three links are substantially parallel to one another and they are all substantially of the same first length.

The first link21has a first end21ahinged to the first connecting rod17and a second end21bthat is connected to turn with the input shaft14of the first sensor11. As can be seen more clearly inFIG. 2, the driving portion1, the first connecting rod17, and the first link21are thus mechanically coupled in such a manner that the first connecting rod17, the first link21, and a segment25extending between the center of rotation A of the driving portion1about the first axis X0and a center B of the hinge between the first end17aof the first connecting rod17and the driving portion1together form a deformable parallelogram.

Thus, the first link21is associated with the first sensor11in such a manner that angular movement of the driving portion1acts via the first connecting rod17to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft14of the first sensor11. The term “corresponding movement” is used in this example to mean movement that is identical for the axis of the sensor. The angular range covered by the sensor is thus the same as the angular range of the driving portion1. Since the driving portion1is constrained to move in turning with the throttle lever, the angular movement of the input shaft14of the first sensor11thus makes it possible to determine the angular movement of the throttle lever.

In the same manner, the second link22has a first end22athat is hinged to the first connecting rod17and a second end22bthat is constrained to turn with the input shaft15of the second sensor12such that the driving portion1, the first connecting rod17, and the second link22are mechanically coupled together so that the first connecting rod17, the second link22, and the segment25together form a deformable parallelogram. In addition, the third link23has a first end23athat is hinged to the first connecting rod17and a second end23bthat is constrained to turn with the input shaft16of the third sensor13such that the driving portion1, the first connecting rod17, and the third link23are mechanically coupled together so that the first connecting rod17, the third link23, and the segment25together form a deformable parallelogram.

Since the three links21,22, and23are substantially parallel to one another and of the same first length, the three sensors11,12, and13are thus in alignment relative to the driving portion, i.e. the centers of the connections between the second ends of each of the links and the axes of the associated sensors are all in alignment with the center of rotation A.

Thus, angular movement of the driving portion1acts via the first connecting rod17to drive corresponding angular movement for each of the three input shafts14,15, and16of the three sensors11,12, and13, all of which are suitable for determining said angular movement of the driving portion1and thus the angular movement of the throttle lever.

Consequently, the device of the invention serves to connect the driving portion1in turning with an entire row of sensors simultaneously, thus making it possible to limit any slack that might exist between the connection means and thereby improve the measurements taken by the various sensors. Furthermore, the device is not very complex, with the connection means being very simple to connect to the driving portion and to the various sensors.

Preferably, the first connecting rod17is hinged to the third link23at a second end17bof the first connecting rod17, the third link23being the link that is furthest from the driving portion1. As a result, the first connecting rod17is of a length that is adjusted to match the number of input shafts of the sensors to be envisaged.

In this particular embodiment, the driving portion1is plane and presents a toothed sector30occupying at least a portion of its thickness. The device then has a fourth measurement sensor31for measuring angular movement of the driving portion1about the first axis X0, which sensor has a pivot input shaft32that extends in a direction X4that is substantially parallel to the first axis X0. In this example, the connection means comprise a spur gear33that is constrained to turn with the input shaft32of the fourth sensor31and that is mechanically coupled to the toothed sector30in order to provide a rotary connection between the driving portion1and the input shaft of the fourth sensor31.

Thus, during angular movement of the throttle lever, the driving portion1meshes with the gear33and thus with the input shaft32of the fourth sensor31, thereby enabling said sensor to determine said angular movement.

By means of the first connecting rod17, it is possible to offset some of the sensors away from the driving portion1and thus to arrange other sensors around the driving portion1for engaging directly with the driving portion. The bulk of the device of the invention is thus reduced.

In this example, and advantageously, the connection means include a second connecting rod35that extends substantially parallel to the first connecting rod17. In this example the second connecting rod35is hinged at a first end to the driving portion1. Furthermore, the second connecting35is hinged to each of the first ends of each of the links. Thus, the driving portion1, the second connecting rod35, and each of the links21,22, and23are mechanically coupled together in such a manner that the second connecting rod17, each link21, and a segment extending between the center of rotation A and a hinge center between the first end of the second connecting rod35and the driving portion1together form a deformable parallelogram. Under such circumstances, angular movement of the driving portion1acts via the first connecting rod17and also via the second connecting rod35to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the sensors.

If one of the connecting rods17or35is broken or damaged so that it can no longer drive turning movement of the links, the other connecting rod can perform this drive on its own. The connection means of the invention are thus very reliable.

Preferably, the first connecting rod17and the second connecting rod35extend on either side of the driving portion and of each of the links. Thus, each link21,22, and23is hinged on one of its faces to the first connecting rod17and on its other face to the second connecting rod35such that each link21,22, and23lies between the two connecting rods17and35. A fraction of the driving portion1and the first ends of the links are thus received between the two connecting rods17and35that extend facing each other.

The arrangement of the two connecting rods17and35thus makes it possible to have a device that is reliable and not very bulky.

The second connecting rod35is preferably hinged to the third link23at a second end of the second connecting rod35. As a result, the second connecting rod35is of a length that matches the number of sensor shafts to be engaged.

A second embodiment of the invention is described below, with reference toFIG. 3. Elements that are common with the first embodiment retain the same reference numbers plus one hundred.

In this second embodiment, in addition to the first series of sensors arranged as in the first embodiment, the device of the invention also includes a second series of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion101about the first axis X0. In this example, the second series of sensors comprises a first sensor141, a second sensor142, and a third sensor143. The three sensors of the second series141,142,143all have respective pivot input shafts that extend along directions that are substantially parallel to the first axis X0.

The device also has connection means connecting each sensor of the second series to the driving portion101. The connection means thus comprise a second connecting rod150having a first end hinged to the driving part101. In this example, the connection means further comprise a second series of links comprising a first link151associated with the first sensor141of the second series, a second link152associated with the second sensor142of the second series, and a third link153associated with the third sensor143of the second series. The links of the second series151,152,153are substantially parallel to one another and they are all of substantially the same second length.

Each link of the second series151,152,153is associated with a respective one of the sensors of the second series141,142,143so as to have a first end hinged to the second connecting rod150and a second end constrained to rotate with the input shaft of the associated sensor. Each link of the second series151,152,153is thus associated with a respective one of the sensors of the second series141,142,143so that angular movement of the driving portion101acts via the second connecting rod150to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the associated sensor.

Under such circumstances, angular movement of the driving portion101acts via the first connecting rod117to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shafts of the sensors of the first series111,112,113, and simultaneously acts via the second connecting rod150, to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shafts of the sensors of the second series141,142,143.

It is thus possible to drive various sensors of a first series111,112,113that are in alignment relative to the driving portion101, and various sensors of a second series141,142,143that are in alignment relative to the driving portion101, but without being in alignment with the sensors of the first series111,112,113. By such an arrangement, the device of the invention makes it possible to connect together in turning a large number of input shafts of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion101, while conserving a volume that is small, and while ensuring that said angular movement is properly measured. In addition, it is possible to avoid having all of the sensors in alignment, thereby simplifying the device of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the driving portion101has a first element103of plane shape and a second element104of plane shape, the first element103being secured to the second element104by a shaft105extending between the two elements103and104, by forming a spacer. The shaft105is constrained to move in turning with the throttle control lever so that angular movement of the throttle lever drives corresponding movement of both elements103and104. The first connecting rod107in this example is hinged at its first end to the first element103and a second connecting rod150in this example is hinged at its first end to the second element104. The first ends of both connecting rods117,150are thus driven to move in turning by the driving portion101without any risk of touching each other, since they do not extend in the same plane, given that the two elements104and105are spaced apart by the shaft105.

A third embodiment of the invention is described below, with reference toFIG. 4. Elements in common with the first embodiment conserve the same reference numbers plus two hundred.

In this third embodiment, the device of the invention has a first series of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion201about a first axis X0. In this example, the first series of sensors comprises a first sensor261and a second sensor262. The device also has a second series of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion201about the first axis X0. In this example, the second series of sensors comprises a first sensor271and a second sensor272. Both sensors of the first series261,262and both sensors of the second series271,272have respective pivot input shafts that extend along directions that are substantially parallel to the first axis X0.

The device also has connection means connecting each sensor of the first series261,262and of the second series271,272to move in turning with the driving portion201.

The connection means thus comprise a first series of links281,282, said links being substantially parallel to one another and all being of substantially the same first length. Each link of the first series281,282is associated with a respective one of the sensors of the first series261,262in such a manner as to be hinged at a first end to the first connecting rod217and having a second end constrained to move in turning with the input shaft of the associated sensor. Each link of the first series281,282is thus associated with a sensor of the first series261,262so that angular movement of the driving portion201acts via the first connecting rod217to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the associated sensor.

The connection means also include a second series of links291,292, the links of the second series291,292being all substantially parallel to the links of the first series281,282and being of substantially the same second length, the second length being different from the first length. Each link of the second series291,292is associated with a respective one of the sensors of the second series271,272so as to be hinged at a first end to the first connecting rod217and having a second end that is constrained to move in turning with the input shaft of the associated sensor. In the same manner as for the first series, each link in the second series291,292is thus associated with a respective sensor of the second series271,272so that angular movement of the driving portion201acts via the first connecting rod217to drive corresponding angular movement of the input shaft of the associated sensor.

Consequently, the same connecting rod serves to connect the driving portion in turning with sensors of a first series of sensors that are mutually in alignment and with the sensors of a second series of sensors that are in mutual alignment but that are not aligned with the sensors of the first series.

By means of such an arrangement, the device of the invention makes it possible to connect together in turning a large number of input shafts of sensors for measuring angular movement of the driving portion201, while conserving a small volume and ensuring that the angular movement of said driving portion is correctly measured by the sensors. In addition, there is no need to have all of the sensors in alignment, thereby simplifying the device of the invention.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and it is possible to apply embodiment variations thereto without going beyond the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims.

In particular, although the present description relates to three distinct embodiments, the three embodiments could be mixed.

The device of the invention could thus omit having a sensor engaged via a spur gear so as to have only sensors that are engaged via a connecting rod and link system.

The device could have some number of sensors other than those described.

The sensor(s) mentioned could be of a type other than that described. For example, the sensors could be capacitive angle sensors or indeed optical coders, . . . .

Although in the third embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the first series of sensors is followed by the second series of sensors, the sensors of the first and second series could be arranged differently. For example, the sensors of the first series could be arranged in alternation with the sensors of the second series. In a variant of this third embodiment, the links of the first series and of the second series could all be of the same size and the connecting rod could present two different widths depending on whether it is to drive rotary movement of the links of the first series or of the links of the second series.